Negotiations for a new contract for PA members took place from July 8-10, with the PA bargaining team and Treasury Board exchanging bargaining demands.
Our team made it clear to Treasury Board that we will not negotiate concessions. We told the employer that our goals in this round of bargaining are to resolve workplace problems and negotiate improvements to wages and working conditions.
The key discussions at the table during this first session of bargaining focused on classification reform and workplace surveillance.
Too many delays
Our team told Treasury Board that our members are frustrated and angry with the delays in implementing classification reform. A Memorandum of Understanding was first signed in 2009 that mandated joint consultation on a review of the Occupational Group Structure. It also promised to reform outdated classification standards.
Five years later, Treasury Board has still not signed off on the OGS review, nor begun the reform of the classification standards. Our bargaining team will be tabling new language on this initiative and will be considering what other actions can be taken.
Protecting privacy
Another major conversation at the table was about privacy, workplace surveillance and electronic monitoring of employees. This was particularly focused on front-line customer service and call centre workers. Bargaining team members are concerned about how this kind of monitoring can be abused by the employer, leading to discipline and negative performance reports. We will be tabling language aimed at protecting members from electronic surveillance.
Sick leave not on table – yet
Treasury Board indicated that the government wishes to move to a short-term disability plan, however the employer did not yet table any specific sick leave proposals.
PSAC has been clear that any changes to working conditions needed to be negotiated at the bargaining table, and not in backrooms or in the media. On July 7, we filed an unfair labour practice complaint in response to Treasury Board’s efforts to claw back sick leave benefits from employees.
We’ll be back at the bargaining table in mid-September.
