Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT AREA COUNCIL MINUTES – November 20, 2007, General Meeting - PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Gil Hodges - UNDE 21013
• Ian Wiggs – UNDE 21008
• Ches Bennett – DCL 05/20500
• Scott Parker – UTE 20028
• John Rumsby – UTE 20028
• Mandi Schubert – CEIU 20975
• Jim Sidel – DCL 05/20500
• Graeme Goodmanson – UEW 20169
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Louise Richard – NAT 20088
• Wayne Little – UTE 20028
• Craig Lessels – UEW 20076
• Wendy Loshal – NAT 20088
• L. Potts – NAT 20088
• Hettie Wheeler – USGE 20012
• Megan Adam - UEW 20147
• Randy Sanderson – UCTE 20220
• Dave Jackson/James Little/Rosemary MacKenzie PSAC Victoria RO

Continue reading below or download the SVIDAC minutes - November 20 2007 (pdf)

1. Call to order

Meeting called to order at 5:35pm

2. Introductions

Dave Jackson introduced guest speakers Megan Adams and Randy Sanderson, members of the bargaining teams for the PA and SV groups.

3. Collective Bargaining

Megan Adam, PA negotiating team member provided an update on the latest round of bargaining for the PA group. The PA group is smaller for this round as the Customs members now have their own group. Delays in bargaining are due to the negotiation of Essential Services Agreements (formerly known as designations) and the completion of pay studies. No wage demands can go forward until the pay studies are complete and while the PA group is not part of the pay study there is a desire to keep all of the groups on the same schedule for bargaining. Discussions around leave provisions and changes to the definition of family. TB wants to reduce leave and has proposed a leave repackaging to include family-related, volunteer and personal days. TB also proposing to reduce rollover of leave from 35 days to 30 days and include the “special” five-day leave in regular vacation leave balance. Service Canada representatives gave presentation on hours of work. Other demands brought forward by the team include access to official languages training, public transit passes and removal of the cap to severance pay. Next meetings are planned for the end of January or beginning of February.

Randy Sanderson, SV negotiating team member, provided an update on the negotiations for this group. Randy has been a member of the Table 2 (now the SV group) bargaining team for the past four rounds of bargaining. He felt that this round has been different from the past as the TB negotiator is more open to using his team. The bargaining team has been concentrating on our issues and has been ignoring TB’s issues. One of the priorities is the elimination of pay zones. Other issues are maternity reassignment, shift premiums, apprenticeships and language on harassment. There is a sub-committee for Ship’s Crews during this round as there was not enough time to establish a separate bargaining table for this group.

Randy and Megan fielded a number of questions from the members present.

4. Adjournment / Next Meeting

M/S/C W. Little/I. Wiggs to adjourn 6:30PM. Next meeting Festive Meet & Greet December 13th, 2007