Tag Archives: TC

As Phoenix Looms, Liberals Propose 2-Year Wage Freeze for Federal Workers

Government moves from delays to insults in major round of bargaining with PSAC. After months of delays, PSAC bargaining teams representing 90,000 federal public service workers were stunned when the Liberal government tabled a series of offensive counter-proposals in the latest negotiations between the union and Treasury Board.

The Government proposed a wage increase of only 0.75% per year for 4 years, along with no retroactive payments. In addition, they requested the new agreement only take effect 365 days after it is signed by both parties. Aside from wage increases that would not even come close to matching inflation, such a long implementation period added to the time spent bargaining would produce a virtual two-year wage freeze for PSAC members.

“It’s outrageous that our members have been waiting three years to get paid correctly under Phoenix—and the Trudeau government won’t even come to the table with a serious offer. After what our members have been through, and what they continue to go through, the Government’s offer can only be described as an insult – it’s shameful.

PSAC members have been frustrated at the lack of movement in almost six months of bargaining, but that pales in comparison to what they’re feeling now. Prime Minister Trudeau promised a new relationship with public service workers – one of respect – but that couldn’t be further from what happened this week. This is a real betrayal.

The good news is that there’s no way PSAC is going to let the Liberal government get away with this. Every day PSAC members show up to work not even knowing if they’re going to get paid properly – they deserve working conditions that reflect that dedication, as well as the value of their work. We won’t back down until they get it.” – Chris Aylward, PSAC National President.

Negotiations from November 27 to 29 will cover table-specific proposals for the four bargaining groups: Program & Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operations Services (SV), and Education & Library Science (EB); and issues common to all teams will be covered December 4 to 6.

A version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PA, EB, TC & SV Groups: Treasury Board Bargaining Resumes Amid Delays and Growing Frustration

In the continued wake of the Phoenix pay system disaster, bargaining teams representing nearly 90,000 federal public service workers are back at the bargaining table with Treasury Board this week and next.

PSAC’s bargaining teams have been repeatedly disappointed by the continued lack of response and meaningful engagement by Treasury Board. In July, PSAC came to the table with clear proposals and a strong mandate to move forward. Unfortunately, the Government has yet to engage substantially with PSAC’s various proposals, and have not offered counter proposals.

“It’s outrageous that our members have been waiting three years to get paid correctly under Phoenix—they shouldn’t have to also wait to get the fair working conditions they deserve,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National President. “They’re very frustrated at the lack of movement in almost six months since we first sat down to bargain with the Liberal government.”

From November 27 to 29 the negotiations will cover table-specific proposals for the four bargaining groups: Program & Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operations Services (SV), and Education & Library Science (EB); and issues common to all teams will be covered December 4 to 6.

“For these upcoming meetings, we’re demanding the government come to the table ready to make significant progress,” concluded Aylward.

A version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PA, EB, TC & SV Groups Bargaining: PSAC Proposes 3.75% Wage Increase Per Year and Additional Improvements

Bargaining teams representing nearly 90,000 federal public service workers were at the bargaining table with Treasury Board (TB) on October 16-17. This week’s sessions involved elected teams from the Program & Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operations Services (SV), and Education & Library Science (EB) groups, whose collective agreements expired this summer.

PSAC’s bargaining teams remained disappointed by the continued lack of response and meaningful engagement by TB negotiators at the table. Similar to PSAC’s experience at the common issues bargaining session on October 10-11, government representatives did not engage substantially with PSAC’s various proposals, and also did not bother to offer counter proposals.

The teams all proposed economic increases of 3.75% per year for the 2018-2020 period. In addition, each team presented wage adjustments and allowances, as well as other proposals at their specific tables.

Specific bargaining proposals at-a-glance

Program & Administrative Services (PA)

Proposals from the PA bargaining team include a Public Safety Allowance for workers at security agencies in constant risk of mental or physical injury, a Primary Responsibility Allowance for Parole Officers, a higher retention bonus for workers having compensation and benefits related duties, and improved working conditions and training for call centre workers.

The PA team also reiterated its proposals to: improve compensation for overtime work, better address family responsibilities, and enhance work-life balance.

Technical Services (TC)

The TC bargaining team tabled a comprehensive wage proposal that seeks to expand and roll all current allowances into salary, add two increments to the top of all members’ pay scales, as well as introduce new occupational allowances to help address a substantial pay gap with others who do similar jobs.

Moreover, the TC team reiterated previously tabled proposals around fair job classification, leave improvements, hours of work, and travel time.

TC Wage Proposal

Education & Library Science (EB)

The bargaining team focused its wage proposals on closing the pay gap between EB members and those working outside government in comparable sectors, such as public school boards and academic libraries. And it followed up on a previously tabled proposal to negotiate a new national rate of pay for 12-month Elementary and Secondary Testing (ED-EST) teachers, which government negotiators have been sitting on for more than four months.

The team also presented new proposals aimed at increasing opportunities for professional development.

Operational Services (SV)

The SV bargaining team proposed market adjustments (in addition to the economic increases mentioned above) for a wide range of job classifications to eliminate the pay gap between public sector positions and comparable jobs in the private sector, as well as initiatives associated with salary grid restructuring. The team also tabled language proposing improvements to the terms and conditions contained in some of the group-specific appendices.

The team also further discussed measures to protect pay and benefits in situations necessitating a Duty to Accommodate.

Next bargaining dates

The next bargaining sessions will be held on:

November 27-29 for table specific proposals
December 4-6 for common issues proposals

PSAC has demanded that government negotiators come to the next set of bargaining meetings ready to respond to our proposals and begin meaningful negotiations.

A version of this article was posted on the PSAC website.

Common Bargaining Issues: PSAC Frustrated by Lack of Progress on Treasury Board Bargaining

The bargaining team representing the common issues for nearly 80,000 public service workers resumed contract negotiations with Treasury Board (TB) on October 10-11, but left the meetings disappointed and frustrated. TB negotiators have yet to table proposals on a number of issues they previously flagged for discussion, and came to the table with no response to most of PSAC’s proposals, which they have had since June.

Despite the Government’s inaction, PSAC’s bargaining team continued advancing our members’ interests and concerns on a number of key issues. They presented proposals on pay administration and Phoenix-related issues, mental health in the workplace, childcare, and a protocol for negotiating the terms and conditions of work for civilian members of the RCMP who are pay-matched to PSAC bargaining units.

Our Phoenix-related demands include:

Employees are to be paid on time, and daily interest is to be paid to employees who do not receive their proper pay, based on the Bank of Canada’s daily compounded interest rate.
No repayments of overpayments are to be made until all the employee’s pay issues have been resolved. Moreover, the repayment schedule will not exceed 10% of the employee’s net pay unless the employee opts for a larger amount.
Rules around salary and benefit advances, and language providing for accountant and financial management counselling for employees negatively impacted by Phoenix.

PSAC’s bargaining team put Treasury Board on notice that for the next common issues bargaining session scheduled for the first week of December, we expect government negotiators to table the remainder of their proposals, and to finally start negotiating seriously.

This week’s bargaining session included elected teams representing members from the Program & Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operations Services (SV) , and Education & Library Science (EB) groups, whose collective agreements expired this summer.

Bargaining sessions for each specific group will be held on October 16-17.

A version of this article was posted on the PSAC website.

Treasury Board Bargaining to Resume in October

PSAC will return to the bargaining table with Treasury Board on Oct. 10 to 11 to negotiate issues common to the Program and Administrative Services group (PA), Operational Services group (SV), Technical Services group (TC), and the Education and Library Science group (EB). Negotiations on issues specific to each table will resume from Oct. 16 to 17.

At the last round of negotiations in July, PSAC came to the table with clear proposals and a strong mandate to move forward. Unfortunately, the employer did not show that same level of commitment, and instead was unprepared to make any real progress.

When we sit down to bargain in October, we’ll be focused on important issues like:

ensuring salaries keep up with inflation, and that wage gaps are closed;
improving work-life balance like extending the parental leave top-up from 37 weeks to the full 63 weeks now available;
addressing workload and reducing the use of temp agencies and precarious contract work.

After two years and a half years of hardships under Phoenix, our members continue to show up to work every day and deliver the services Canadians depend on. The least this government can do is negotiate a collective agreement that recognizes that commitment and the importance of the services they provide to Canadians.

It’s outrageous that PSAC members are still waiting to get paid correctly – they shouldn’t also have to wait to get the working conditions they deserve.

A version of this article was posted on the PSAC website.