September 2019 Young Workers Conference Call
PSAC and government return to bargaining table to reach deal before election
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is resuming bargaining with Treasury Board for federal public service workers with the expectation that the government is committed to delivering a fair contract and proper compensation for the damage done to PSAC members by the Phoenix pay system.
2010: Family status accommodation
This is the fifth vignette in a series celebrating our union victories.
The 2010 groundbreaking Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ‘Johnstone Decision’ shaped the future of accommodations related to family status.
As a Border Services Officer, Fiona Johnstone required a fixed-shift schedule to arrange for child care. The employer refused to consider her request, arguing that it had no obligation under the Canadian Human Rights Act to accommodate what it deemed to be her personal choices around childcare. PSAC and CIU supported Ms Johnstone at every step throughout the ensuing lengthy legal battle. Ultimately, the Tribunal found CBSA had discriminated against Ms. Johnstone by failing to accommodate her family obligations.
In 2014, in a further blow to the employer’s narrow approach to family status accommodation, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, confirming that human rights legislation is to be interpreted in a broad manner and that family status includes child care and other legal family obligations.
For more union victories, see this page, and follow us on social media using #CIUvictories.
Full-time deployment for FB-02s
A few months ago, CIU became aware of a troublesome CBSA initiative regarding the hiring of part-time FB-02s. This practice effectively created a two-tier system within the Officer Induction Model: Part-time BSOs faced a longer assessment period before being promoted to FB-03 and, once promoted, had no guarantee of full-time employment.
Since then, CIU’s 3rd National VP, Joey Dunphy, has brought this matter to several meetings with CBSA executives, while also raising the issue at the Labour Management Executive Committee, the National Labour Management Consultation Committee and at the Bargaining Table.
Another victory for our members
Brother Dunphy’s steadfast advocacy on this question paid off: As of August 1, 2019, all part-time FB-02s are now deployed into full-time indeterminate positions at their respective Port of Entry. We can be proud of this victory for our members and the union!
PA, EB, TC & SV bargaining: strike timeline
The Labour Board has set dates for Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearings for four Treasury Board bargaining tables:
- Program and Administrative Services (PA): December 4-7, 2019
- Education and Library Sciences (EB): December 9-12, 2019
- Technical Services (TC): December 17-19, 2019
- Operational Services (SV): January 22-24, 2020
Once a hearing has taken place, a PIC report is generally issued within 30 days. After the reports are issued, each bargaining unit will be in a position to strike if members vote to walk off the job.
The PIC process began when bargaining reached an impasse in May.
In negotiations, the government insisted on a wage cut once inflation is factored in as well as a waiting period of up to 18 months after contract signing for retro pay. At the same time, the government rejected our proposals to improve working conditions by:
- implementing market adjustments where pay discrepancies exist;
- providing a full top-up for the new 18-month parental leave option;
- reducing contracting-out and precarious work in the public service; and
- better addressing mental health in the workplace.
What is a Public Interest Commission (PIC)?
By law, once impasse is reached, a PIC is established to help the parties reach an agreement. The PIC is a panel of three people – a chairperson appointed by the Labour Board and nominees appointed by the union and management. The union and the employer submit briefs and explain their positions on the outstanding issues at a hearing with the PIC. The PIC then issues a report with recommendations for settlement. The recommendations are not binding.
Once the PIC releases its report, PSAC bargaining teams will reconvene to discuss the recommendations. Typically, PSAC’s teams and government representatives then return to the table to resume negotiations.
Will we strike?
Regardless of which party forms government after the fall federal election, PSAC will continue pressing for a fair deal that addresses members’ demands. However, if PSAC and the government are still unable to reach an agreement after the PIC reports are issued, members will have the opportunity to take a strike vote.
History has taught us that the best way to avoid strikes is to prepare for one. Therefore, PSAC will ensure that strike training is offered to members in the coming months.
PSAC will also provide updates on the PIC process and other bargaining developments as appropriate.
The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.
2008: ‘Doubling-up’ at ports of entry
Our seventh vignette in a series celebrating our union victories.
It should go without saying that no officer should be obligated to work alone when performing law enforcement related duties. Yet, CIU had to lobby aggressively so the unacceptable practice of forcing officers to work alone – often in remote locations or late at night – would stop. This egregiously unsafe policy affected a staggering 139 work locations throughout the country, needlessly endangering officers and border communities.
Thanks to relentless union pressure, the situation started to turn in 2006, with the government allocating funding to solve ‘work-alone’ situations. Finally, 2008 saw the employer adopt its Doubling-up Policy.
While it would still take a few years after the adoption of the policy for work-alone situations to be eliminated, the union had succeeded in its primary objective: Having the employer recognize the need to end an archaic practice and ensure proper backup for its officers – our members – in a law enforcement environment.
For more union victories, see this page, and follow us on social media using #CIUvictories.
PA, EB, SV & TC bargaining: PSAC continues pursuit of fair collective agreements and proper compensation for Phoenix
The tentative collective agreement settlements reached by the federal Treasury Board with some federal unions this week will not stand in the way of proper compensation for PSAC members who work for the federal government and its agencies, said PSAC National President Chris Aylward.
“Negotiations with Treasury Board for our PA, EB, TC and SV bargaining units are still at impasse, as are our negotiations with the Canada Revenue Agency,” Aylward explained. “We have just had confirmation that the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board is establishing Public Interest Commissions in each case to review the positions of the parties and make recommendations clearing the way for strike votes.”
“We are prepared to go back to the bargaining table at any time, but Treasury Board must show it is prepared to address the important concerns of our members including fair compensation for the Phoenix-related pay problems we have endured for almost four years now,” said Aylward.
The government’s last proposal to increase wages by only 1.5% each year over four years represents a pay cut in real terms. Further, the government’s negotiators continue to pursue contract concessions including the removal of the previously negotiated agreement on mental health.
“PSAC members have given our union bargaining teams a clear mandate to negotiate collective agreement improvements not rollbacks,” said Aylward.
“Our members want the federal government to live up to its promise to treat public service employees and the PSAC, the largest federal union, with respect and address long-standing problems including pay inequities, issues related to work-life balance, and the rise of precarious employment which is putting at risk reliable service to the public,” Aylward said.
The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.
National Public Service Week: You deserve a fair contract and Phoenix settlement
This year’s National Public Service Week (NPSW), being held between June 9 and 15, is happening while 140,000 PSAC members are fighting to reach fair collective agreements and proper compensation for the Phoenix disaster.
While the NPSW is supposed to celebrate and express appreciation for federal workers, the Trudeau government’s actions over the last year have done the opposite:
- Bargaining for 90,000 members covered by Treasury Board collective agreements and over 26,000 members at the Canada Revenue Agency has hit impasse, bringing strike action one step closer.
- Thousands more, working at the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Mint, have experienced very slow progress in their respective contract talks.
- Negotiations for all PSAC members affected by the disastrous Phoenix pay system fell apart after the government insisted on a meagre compensation offer, even as the Parliamentary Budget Officer revealed that government workers and their families will continue suffering under Phoenix for at least another four years.
PSAC encourages members to participate in NPSW events and use them as an opportunity to send a clear signal to government that it has failed its own employees.
With the federal election quickly approaching this fall, there is no better time to send the government a message:
Let’s Get It Done!
PSAC has created stickers and leaflets to bring home this message during NPSW events across the country — contact your local to get a hold of them.
The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.[