Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Another in a continuing series of articles & handouts that will be of interest to PSAC stewards – read more of them in the Steward’s Network section of the site.

Do you have any rights when your employer tells you that you are to be present at some type of disciplinary meeting? Read the following resource document and see what the established principles are regarding this issue.

Collective agreement language describing rights to union representation in matters of discipline varies in its strength and scope. Most collective agreements covering PSAC members contain a provision providing an employee with the right to union representation at the time s/he is interviewed regarding allegations of misconduct, or alternatively, at the time discipline is imposed. Some agreements oblige the employer to remind the employee of his/her rights to representation. Or, an employer may be required to notify both the union and the employee in advance of the meeting, and to indicate its purpose. The employer may be required to furnish grounds to an employee prior to imposing a disciplinary measure. Other language refers to time limits for placing items of a disciplinary nature on an employe’s file, and notifying the employee of whether or not the file will be used at the meeting.

The scope of representational rights is found in the precise wording of the collective agreement.

Read more in the Discipline – Rights to Union Representation (pdf) document, prepared by the PSAC education section.

Cheers to Monique Bakker, Chief Safety and Health Officer, Union of Environment Workers Local 20147 for forwarding this ergonomic self-assessment information!

1. YOUR THIGHS should be parallel to the floor: Adjust the height and/or angle of the chair seat.

2. YOUR FEET should lay flat on the floor or on a footrest: Adjust the height of the chair seat.

3. BACK OF THE KNEES should be clear of the front edge of the seat: Adjust the depth of the chair seat so that you can easily place your fist behind your knee. Be sure to specify the appropriate seat depth length when ordering a new chair.

4. YOUR BACK: lower and mid-back should be well supported: Adjust the height, tension, and angle of the backrest, to ensure the lumbar support is positioned at your waist.

5. YOUR FOREARMS should be supported and your shoulders relaxed at all times: The height of and distance between your armrests should allow freedom of movement for your forearms when performing tasks, yet provide support for them during rest periods or when using your mouse. Avoid hunching your shoulders and ensure that the elbows/upper arms remain close to your torso.

6. YOUR ELBOWS should be at approximately the same hight as the keyboard: Adjust the height of your keyboard tray or work surface so the keyboard is at the height of your elbows.

7. YOUR WRISTS should be straight at all times and your hands in line with your forearms: Adjust the angle and height of the keyboard tray or work surface to ensure straight wrists. If your keyboard tray or work surface is not adjustable, adjust your seat to ensure straight wrists. You will need to use a footrest if you have raised the seat and your feet are not flat and well supported on the floor.

8. THE MONITOR should be at a comfortable reading distance and height: The viewing distance should be within 16” to 29” (40cm-74cm). About one arm’s length. The monitor height should allow the neck to be in a neutral position when looking at the top row of text on the screen.

Read more in these two pdf’s: Ergonomics – adjusting and adapting your computer workstation and Ergonomics – self assessment

via Vancouver & District Labour Council

How can we turn our public schools into vibrant community hubs?

Think City invites you to attend Think Schools – a one-day conference on how citizens across the city can develop a vision for renewing schools taking place on Sunday, April 6.

According to a Vancouver School Board (VSB) report published in September 2007, our city may only have nine of its 64 historic schools left still standing once the school board’s facilities renewal process is complete. In place of these important public buildings, the city’s schools may be systematically reduced in size, unique programming that defines schools will be excluded from these new buildings due to space limitations, and valuable community amenities such as daycare, seniors care, after-school care and auditoriums will be cut from these neighbourhood anchors.

Keynote speaker Seattle School Board Building Excellence Program Manager Don Gilmore will share solutions that helped preserve and renew his city’s public school buildings.

Lunch and reception are included in the registration fee. Pre-registration is required.

• When: Sunday, April 6, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
• Where: Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews
• Tickets: $25 regular, register here
• Scholarships: Call 604.216.7246 for details.
• Childcare: Call 604.216.7246 for details.

2008 Program Guidelines

The PSAC 2008 Scholarship Program is again offering 15 scholarships.:

• one $4,000 PSAC – Groulx National Scholarship;
• one $4,000 PSAC – Coughlin National Scholarship;
• two $3,000 PSAC – GroulxNational Scholarships;
• two $3,000 PSAC – Coughlin National Scholarships;
• one $2,000 J.R. (Joe) Power National Scholarship;
• one $1,000 PSAC National Scholarship;
• seven $1,000 PSAC Regional Scholarships; – one for each of the seven regions (Atlantic, Quebec, National Capital Region, Ontario, Prairies, British Columbia, and the North).

Scholarships are available for the children and dependants of PSAC members. As well, three out of the seven $1,000 PSAC Regional Scholarships may be awarded to PSAC members (if applications are received) who are returning to university, college or a recognized institute of higher learning on a full-time basis.

PSAC members (as parents of applicants or as applicants) must be in good standing as of March 31st of the current year.

The scholarships are not restricted to first-year students. No more than one scholarship will be awarded to the same family in a given year and no applicant will be awarded a scholarship more than once.

The scholarships are awarded primarily based on the merit of the 800-word essay according to the essay topic determined for the given year.

The application will be reviewed as a whole; however the PSAC Scholarship Committee will place most emphasis upon the submitted essay.

Visit the national website for more information and application forms.

Another in a continuing series of articles & handouts that will be of interest to PSAC stewards … read more in the Steward’s Network section of the site.

Operational Requirements

1. Operational requirements must be based on the work itself to be performed, not on administrative or economic criteria.
2. Consideration of overtime costs are not proper concerns in determining whether or not operational requirements exist.
3. Operational requirements are a question of fact to be determined in each case.
4. The initial onus rests with the grievor to demonstrate that operational requirements were not a valid reason on the part of the employer to deny a benefit of the collective agreement (e.g., leave). Once that burden is discharged, the onus of demonstrating that operational requirements were valid reasons for denying the benefit will then rest with the employer. Of the two burdens, the employer’s burden is more onerous. The reasons are twofold:
   • Knowledge of operating requirements is in the hands of the employer. More importantly, the employer has undertaken an obligation, the release from which is contemplated only in special circumstances. To not impose the onus on the employer to establish the exceptions to the right granted under the relevant provision in the collective agreement could undermine its intent.
5. It has been held that the employer must consider the real alternatives available regarding the use of other staff. That said, the employer’s refusal to consider the use of other staff does not necessarily mean that denial of leave is unreasonable.
6. The employer must organize its operations and the service so that employees can exercise their rights under the collective agreement. The employer cannot hide behind staff shortages and operational demands such as training. These are not acceptable excuses to relieve the employer of its obligations.
7. There may be unusual operational requirements of a temporary nature when an employer may block out periods of time in which leave will not be granted because of anticipated needs (e.g. new plants, increase in cross-border traffic).
   When the employer plans the operations and clearly knows its operational requirements, it has been held that the employer can rightly refuse a request for, for example, compensatory leave.

Download the “Operational Requirements: Some Principles” handout (pdf), developed by the PSAC education section.

March 21 is a time to remember those who fought against racism and for equality and human rights. We must honour them by taking up the torch and continuing the struggle, especially at a time of relentless neoconservative efforts to roll back our gains.

A more recent example of these efforts is the Harper minority government’s refusal to participate in the upcoming United Nations International Forum to Against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia.

A further look at the Harper government’s record on human rights and equality makes it obvious that the Conservatives have no interest in fighting racism and discrimination.

In two years of government under the Conservative Party, it has:

• eliminated the Court Challenges Program,
• eliminated the Law Reform Commission,
• scrapped valuable literacy and equity programming to communities, including Aboriginal communities,
• reduced social development programs under the Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC),
• reduced programs that facilitate cultural awareness under Multiculturalism,
• refused to recognize Aboriginal rights in Canada and in the international forum, and
• detained racialized people under security certificates without proper due process.

Furthermore, the Conservative government, in its pursuit for corporate profits over the universal welfare of Canadians, continues to make cuts to quality public services and to privatize these services. It ignores the historical role that quality public services have played in Canada in ensuring equality and human rights.

(more…)

EB negotiations: more frustrations

The EB bargaining team had another long and frustrating negotiating session with its Treasury Board counterpart the week of March 3rd.

Your team returned, as the lead table, to the issue of adding “gender identity” and “gender expression” to the no discrimination language in all Treasury Board agreements. The Employer has previously denied this proposal because a small number of cases that have been adjudicated suggest that “gender identity” is already covered by the word “sex.” We have made the point to Treasury Board that if discrimination on these grounds is already prohibited, we paty poker net5card draw pokerpoker superstars 2 spielendraw poker rulespoker texas holdem strategiepoker spielen mit geldtexas holdem handtexas holdem reihenfolgepoker net comonline poker netpoker regeln splitpoker live spielenpoker online macpoker 5 drawper giocare a pokeritalian poker tourpoker sexi gratisgioca pokergioca a poker on linestrip poker da scaricare gratisonline gamesgioco di pokerstrip poker livegioco strep pokerscommesse internetpoker gametexas holdem online gratis,texas holdem online,texas holdem poker onlinepoker online italiastreap poker gratispoker giochi scaricaregame pokergioco d azzardo pokerpoker su internetscarica gioco pokerpoker carte gratispoker tour gamefree omaha pokerpoker game online gratisgioco poker italianocasino poker gratisgioco poker per pcgiochi 7 card stud inlinearegole pokergiochare omaha pokervc pokertornei poker gratisplay omaha poker onlinecarte giocopoker non onlinepoker room should write it into the Collective Agreement for all to see. The team was assisted by PSAC legal counsel Shannon Blatt and a Treasury Board employee, both of whom are members of the trans community. Despite a major and incredibly moving presentation by the two women, the Treasury Board negotiating team took the position that it has to “conduct more research” into our proposal. We are hoping this will result in a positive response when we bargain the week of April 28.

(more…)

Is that light at the end of the tunnel?

Your PA bargaining team may be a year older since the PSAC served notice to bargain in March 2007 but we’re energized by the fact that we’re finally seeing some movement from the employer. During our bargaining sessions from March 4 to 6, it was clear that the employer’s team had come to the table with the intention of making some progress. Treasury Board started to back off and withdraw some of their demands for serious concessions.

We’re encouraged by this approach. But we’re also ready to do what it takes to get the rest of the employer’s concessions off the table and start moving ahead with improvements to our agreement.

During this latest session, we spent time bringing the employer up to date on the good work of PSAC’s Social Justice Fund as background to our demand for an employer contribution to the Fund. Team members Megan Adam and Geoff Ryan, together with one of the Fund’s Officers Louise Casselman, talked about how the Fund’s projects are helping workers in Canada and internationally.

(more…)

March 21 marks the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa when police opened fire on hundreds of South Africans protesting against Apartheid’s passbook laws, killing 67 and wounding 186. Join us on March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racism, to show our communities collective strength in challenging ongoing racism.

• COMMUNITY MARCH
• Friday March 21 at 1 pm
• (Good Friday Holiday)
• Meet at Clark Park on Commercial Drive and 14th
• Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories

Bring your children and family, there will be food, water and snacks during the march. Rest vehicles will accompany the march. All welcome!

Minutes: Fraser Valley Area Council General Meeting March 8, 2008

In Attendance:

• James Little PSAC
• Mel Dureen USGE Local 20054
• Jayne Johns CEIU 20903
• Anne Marie McCully CEIU Local 20903
• Edi Martin USGE Local 20141

Continue reading below, or download the  Fraser Valley AC minutes – March 8 2008 (pdf)

Meeting called to order at 7 pm. A quorum has been reached.

1. Education

we just completed the PSAC Staffing course today (9am to 4pm). This course was very well attended. There were 15 registered participants with one no show and one who sent regrets for a total of 13 members in attendance. Four were first time participants in a PSAC event.

Amal sent out a draft outline for an Aboriginal Awareness Course (Turtle Island?) this week. So far the feedback has been very positive and there is a sense that the members will be very interested in attending this course.

Action-the executive members should provide their feedback to Edi who will respond to Amal on behalf of the executive by Friday March 14, 2008.

2. Pre-Convention Meeting

It is our custom to have a meeting prior to the BC Regional Convention so that the FVAC members can meet the Fraser Valley delegates and review the resolutions to determine our priorities.

Meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday April 10, 2008 at Jayne’s house 6pm (dinner provided).

3. Post-Convention Meeting

Again, it is our custom to have a meeting after the BC Regional Convention so that the Fraser Valley delegates for their post convention reports.

Meeting time and date to be announced.

Minutes: Fraser Valley Area Council General Meeting, January 17, 2008

In Attendance:

• James Little PSAC
• Jayne Johns CEIU 20903
• Keith Glover  BC RVP USGE
• Anne Marie McCully CEIU Local 20903
• Edi Martin USGE Local 20141
• Chuck Leech USGE Local 20054
• Mel Dureen USGE Local 20054

Meeting called to order at 7 pm. A quorum has been reached.

Continue reading below, or download the Fraser Valley AC minutes – January 17 2008 (pdf)

Education

We reviewed the respective roles and responsibilities in regard to selecting, scheduling and recruiting for courses being held in the Fraser Valley.

The local executive members-review the education needs of the members and bring forward suggestions for course offerings that are relevant to our members, promote the courses and recruit members to attend.

Edi-coordinates the education related activities of the FVAC executive by scheduling meetings to discuss education, communicating the executives decisions regarding course content to James and Amal.

James-sends out notices of training to locals and officers. He also sends out reminders closer to the course deadlines. He relies on them to actively recruit members to attend courses. James asks that we provide up to date contact information to him for new/existing members and he will expand the contact lists.

Suggestion-have a member take leave without pay, to be reimbursed by the Union, to do a phone recruitment two weeks prior to the courses.

Reminders

• if there are not a minimum of number of participants registered for a course one week prior (the number depends on the course but is usually 10) then the course will be officially postponed.
• Selection of participants is in accordance with the Regional Education Committee guidelines. As a result members of the Fraser Valley may not be selected to attend courses offered in other geographic regions.

We discussed potential course offerings for 2008

• March 8 Staffing (this course was postponed from fall 2007)
• May 2008 a one-day aboriginal awareness course. Jayne will consult with Amal on course content.
• September 2008 a political awareness course. Anne Marie and Edi will consult with each other and with Amal on course concept and content
• late October 2008 a two day TUB course.

The Fraser Valley Labour Council (FVLC) also offers union courses twice per year. We encourage all PSAC members to attend.

Motion-that the Fraser Valley Area Council will pay the $75.00 registration fee for FVAC delegates to attend a FVLC course. M/s-Jayne/Edi, Carried.

Adjourned 8 pm.

OTTAWA – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is taking a quarter century-old pay equity complaint to the Federal Court of Appeal. The complaint involves about 6,000 current and former clerical workers at Canada Post. The union is reacting to a lower court decision issued in February that essentially overturned an award made by a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in October 2005.

PSAC National President John Gordon announced the decision to appeal at a national bargaining conference being held in Ottawa with members of PSAC’s Union of Postal Communications Employees component who are employed by Canada Post.

“We believe the Federal Court’s decision is flawed and there are strong grounds for an appeal,” said Gordon. “Some aspects of the decision are contradictory while others ignore the roles and authority of both the Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.”

(more…)

Minutes – BRUSH Committee Meeting – January 23, 2008 (amended)

Chair

• Joy Hennen CEIU

In Attendance

• Floyd Knelsen CRA
• Chuck Leech ALTERNATE – USGE
• Gail Jewsbury – UEW
• Tom Gallager GSU
• Gordon Law WESTERN ECONOMICS
• Melvin Dureen – USGE
• Stephen Chessor CUDA
• James Little BC PSAC, Regional Representative
• Robert Hellenius Commissionaire
• Raheman nur Mohamed CIUE
• Ray King
• Neil MacKay
• Kelly Legacy – Vernon – CEIU
• Carolyn McGillivray – White Rock CBSA
• Gwen Williams – SSO, NAT
• Sam Weise – CEIU
• Monique Bakker

Regrets

• Wayne Little UTE

Agenda Items:

1. BC PSAC Health and Safety webpage and forum.
2. New COSH Regulation XX Violence update.
3. New COSH Hazard Prevention Regulation XIX amendments (Ergonomics).
4. Report from the PSAC National H&S Rep’s Meeting.
5. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infections.
6. Work Reorganization and Call Centres.
7. Succession Planning.
8. H&S Logo Contest
9. PIPS participation in the PSAC BRUSH Committee.
10. Lancaster House Audio Conference – Benefits for Disabled Workers Navigating the Maze

Roundtable of introductions

Agenda Item #1 was moved to the end of agenda

Acceptance of previous minutes – m/s/c chuck/ floyd

1. COSH Regulation XX, Violence – The COSH has created a new Regulation to address Violence in the workplace. Violence Prevention in the Work Place forms Part XX of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety (COHS) Regulations, which are made pursuant to Part II of the Canada Labour Code (Code), the purpose of which is: to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of employment in the federal jurisdiction. The regulations appear in the December 15, 2007, edition of the Canada Gazette Part I (see volume 141, no 50, pages 3455 to 3459).

2. New Ergonomic Regulation Update – The COSH Regulation XIX Hazard Prevention has been amended to include Ergonomics. The brand new regulation is now law, the PSAC provided input into the regulation however much of our input was not included in the final document. The new regulation is available on the BC PSAC Website and Forum page.

3. Report from the PSAC National H & S rep’s meeting – The PSAC Regional H&S Rep’s have been meeting twice a year to discuss issues related to H&S. We have two national officers who, among other things review regulatory amendments negotiate the NJC agreements on H&S.

NJC covers broad based issues of concern to all employees in the government – all unions, not just PSAC. NJC is conducting a cyclical review of the H&S directives. We have the opportunity to provide input into the process. They have just completed directive A and are now working on B, C and D. These directives are very specific in nature and deal with things like Elevated Work Structures, Motor Vehicle Operations, Materials Handleing, PPE’s and Electrical Safety. The PSAC National H&S Officers would like us to look at the directives and see if we have any concerns about them or the language in them. The information will be provided on the BC PSAC H&S Website and Forum Page. We have until the end of summer 2008 to complete the task at which time Denis St. Jean, the national officer responsible for this, will do the final write up.

4. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infections – The Commissionairs in Vancouver had a serious problem with MRSA’s and some immigrant detainees. The Commissionairs currently run the detention cells for CBSA dealing with immigrant detainees. Rob Hellenius is familiar with MRSA via other sources. Gloves and hand washing do not enough protection against the spread of infection as suggested by the health nurse at the jail. There appears to be lots of misinformation about MRSA. Management thought that they had a spider infestation. There are two types of MRSA, facility acquired and community acquired. This can cause loss of limb, skin facetious, lung facetious. In Canada we do not have any protocols. Rob has asked PSAC for help. Initially we were close to a Section 128 “right to refuse” situation – but there were some protocols introduced and there probably was not imminent danger.. We needed to bring this to the attention of the employer, the commissionaires, and CBSA and ensure the safe transfer individuals. We have decided to follow the Section 127 “internal complaint resolution process” at this time.

Rob advises that a1/3 of the Canadian population carries MRSA and surfaces can remain infectious for up to two weeks.

CL has gone through this a couple of times at Matsqui. Senior management was notified by the hospital, health team called, and the person was isolated.

MD – currently CSC is coming up with a draft of a pandemic response paper. Generally it is after the fact, rather than preventative. They are dealing with infectious diseases such as Hep C, Hep B,

The H&S Rep for BC PSAC contacted Health Canada, and spoke with occupational health nurse (Ruth Nicholson). She does a lot of training for customs people at the airports around this issue. She would be willing to do some training around this issue for other concerned employees

There was a general discussion around the need for protocols and the proper use of PPE’s in relation to MRSA’s

5. Work Reorganization and Call centres – CEIU – Neil and Rahmen work as EI call centre agents in harbour centre. They raise the issue of work conditions in call centres and the impact that it has on call centre workers. Characterized by stress, burn out, and absenteeism. The PSAC has raised the issue of poor work conditions with management but with no success. Most issues are best addressed via H&S. The CEIU (Service Canada) members want to draw attention to the following issues (work environment, tethered to a desk, monitoring and surveillance of the work force, high call volumes, non stop, on phones 6.5 hours out of 7 hours. 2 sec break, etc). The employers emphasis is on quantity not quality. The results are burn out, frustration, hi turn over rate, hi absenteeism, managements insistence on doctor’s notes, low morale and intense work environment.

CBSA has a large call centre in Winnipeg and CRA have several call centres across the country. In the most recent minutes of the National Board of Directors (NBoD) meeting the PSAC President reported on Work Reorganization and Call Centres was one of his top issues. He indicated that the PSAC has one of the two seats representing the House of Labour on the Board of Govenors for Contact Centre Canada the sector council for organizations the are involved in the contact centre industries. The BC PSAC H&S Rep talked to Howie West the National Rep responsible for Work Reorganization, who informed us that there is a National PSAC working group on call centres. They have conducted a survey and the results are near completion. The PSAC Components are well represented in the working groups however; they have not met in quite some time.

The BC PSAC H&S Rep will contact Howie again to determine the names of the representatives on the call centre working group. Joy indicated that CEIU is looking for a new building to house 500 – 700 people as a call centre with processing. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available for members.

ACTION:

Joy – will get in touch with the CEIU group involved with call centres.
James – will contact Howie for names of members on the working groups.
Rahmen – will again raise the issue at his local H&S committee and raise the issue to the regional and national level.

6. Succession Planning – Joy is not running for a second term and any candidate for the BC Regional Council seat for H&S must be a member of the BRUSH.

7. BC PSAC H&S LOGO Contest – The canary in the cage is a good H&S symbol and it must be incorporated into all Logo Contest entries. The contest should conclude prior to the BC Regional Convention in April so that the wining entry can be revealed at the Convention.

8. PIPSC Participation – We have received a request from PIPS members in BC who wish to participate in our BRUSH meetings. Some thoughts were our need to be cautious and that we should contact PIPSC to determine if they have any objections. The REVP BC PSAC was informed and she wants the committee to decide. Some members would like to be inclusive and others are opposed.

Action: James – will contact Denis St. Jean to see if they have any concerns.

9. Lancaster House Audio Conference – Benefits for Disabled Workers Navigating the Maze – We purchased the audio tape of some of this conferences. This subject matter deals with WCB, DI and other benefits (EAP, fit to work) and is about 1 hr to 1.25 hours. We would like to schedule a time and place for airing the audio conference and we would like to hold the meeting in conjunction with the Human Rights Committee. Try something new for people who cannot get to the office. It will be broadcast on the DVD player and then will go over the conference call via the speakers.

10. BC PSAC Health and Safety Website and Forum – www.psacbc.com – We introduced the new BC PSAC Website and Forum page and explained how to access and register for the Forum. We feel that a lot of our current issues can be addressed in this new format and we will be inviting the rest of the PSAC members to also join in the discussions.

Meeting Adjourned

Greetings,

Here are some details regarding the 4th Triennial BC Regional Convention. More information will be available in the near future.

The Convention will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Downtown Vancouver,and begins at 8:45AM on Friday April 18th. Registration will be available from 6:00PM-8:30PM on Thursday April 17th, and from 7:30AM. – 8:45AM on Friday, April 18th. The Convention is scheduled to end at 3PM on Sunday April 20th.

Funding for the Convention will be as follows:

For those delegates living more than 20 kilometres from the Hyatt Regency:

* PSAC will cover the costs of hotel, travel, per diem, parking, and loss of salary for Thursday, if a travel day.
* If on shift on Saturday and/or Sunday, loss of salary will be provided.
* Loss of salary for Friday will not be covered.

For those delegates living 20 kilometres or less from the Hyatt Regency:

* PSAC will cover the cost of travel, meals, and parking.
* Hotel will not be provided.
* If on shift on Saturday and/or Sunday, loss of salary will be provided.
* Loss of salary for Friday will not be covered.

Observers and guests are expected to cover all of their expenses.

A registration fee of $50.00 will be requested from all delegates, as well as observers and guests who will require (and want) an exciting convention kit. Cheques can be mailed to the REVP’s office or presented at registration, and should be made out to PSAC BC.

Travel arrangements are being handled by WE Travel, a unionized travel agent. All delegates, guests, and observers considered to be in travel status, as above, and who will require a hotel room are requested to visit the WE Travel website to book their room. Please note the Hyatt Regency is a fully non-smoking facility.

Delegates, guests, and observers who require flight reservations: please contact WE Travel toll free at 1-800-663-4703 or (604) 253-5585. Please reference the PSAC BC Regional Convention. If you have any questions regarding the Convention please contact the REVP’s office at (604) 430-0191 or 1-866-811-7700

We look forward to seeing you in April, in Solidarity,

Kay Sinclair & Dellie Lidyard
PSAC BC Regional Convention Organizing Committee

Ottawa – StraightGoods.ca is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its family of websites: www.PublicValues.ca .

The site is an online magazine presenting news about privatization and the fight to preserve public services, resources, spaces and enterprise. It will be updated frequently. Readers are encouraged to submit ideas and articles.

“The site is in Beta format right now,” Straight Goods says.

“We’re still test-driving it, and we have yet to publish all articles in French on its sister site, Valeurspubliques.ca. As we get rolling, we expect to be publishing in both official languages as simultaneously as possible.

“We are thankful for the support of the partners backing PublicValues.ca. In 2008, they include National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and Ontario Secondary School Teachers (OSSTF). Founding partners include the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).”

Visit publicvalues.ca today and add it to your list of bookmarks!

Attention to all members of the DD, EG, GT, PI, PY and TI pay groups.

• Your Bargaining Team encourages PSAC members to register for the automatic email update on the PSAC National Website.

Your TC Bargaining Team was in Ottawa from February 26 to 29 and continued negotiations with Treasury board.

As in earlier rounds, bargaining is being coordinated between the Treasury Board Tables, with each Table taking the lead on certain issues. So this session, our Table discussed the following issues:

• Article 20 – Harassment;
• Article 28 – Overtime;
• Article 29 – Call-back Pay;
• Article 30 – Standby;
• Article 31 – Reporting Pay;
• Article 34 – Traveling Time/Captive Time;
• Article 41 – Injury-on-duty Leave;
• Article 43 – Maternity Related Reassignment;
• Article 65 – Pay Administration (Acting Pay & Salary Protection);
• New Article – Pre-retirement Transition Leave;
• New Article 39.09 – Sick LWOP provision for extended absence.

The Employer responded to a number of items that we had tabled during the last session, and said NO to the following:

• Improved Call-back for workers at Percy Moore and Norway House Hospitals;
• Article 39.09 – Sick LWOP provision for an extended absence;
• Training to keep TI certification up-to-date (According to Treasury Board, the existing Employer-provided-training is sufficient)
• Inclusion of Ammo Techs in the Dangerous Goods Article (Treasury Board stated that DND informed them that the Ammo Techs are not accountable if something goes wrong, because they only handle the material and they are not certified under the TDG Act.)
• App K – Improvements to Diving Duty Allowance;
• Article 43 – Improvements to Maternity Related Reassignment;
• A new proposal to include on Pre-Retirement Transition Leave in the Collective Agreement.

(more…)

To PSAC members in Vancouver Quadra,

Please Think Public when voting for your PM in the by-election on March 17th.

Check the Candidates and their Parties’ views and records on public services and privatization.

• downsizing – cuts to Service Canada programs, offices, and workers
• de-regulation – Bill C-39 to amend the Canadian Grain Act. This Act would eliminate important grain weighing and inspection jobs of PSAC members in Vancouver.
• tax cuts – The Conservative Government’s corporate tax cuts will take 60 billion dollars out of revenues over the next five years. This is money that could be spent on national child care and pharmacare programs, and a national housing strategy.

As the largest federal public service union in Canada, the PSAC is asking you to keep these issues in mind when you cast your vote on March 17th.

Downsizing, de-regulation, and tax cuts come at the cost of services to the public and of the jobs of workers providing those services.

Another in a continuing series of articles & handouts that will be of interest to PSAC stewards … read more in the Steward’s Network section of the site.

Acting Pay: Some Principles

With the elimination of positions and staff cuts, employees may find themselves assigned additional duties. With financial constraints, managers may be under increased pressure to stay within existing budgets or cut costs. As employers meet their employment equity obligations, employees may receive a variety of developmental opportunities. In these kinds of circumstances, employees may be entitled to acting pay.

The conditions under which entitlement to acting pay exists are determined by collective bargaining. The following is from the collective agreement between PSAC and Treasury Board for the Program and Administrative Services Group (expiry date of 20 June 2007):

64.07

(a) When an employee is required by the Employer to substantially perform the duties of a higher classification level in an acting capacity and performs those duties for at least three (3) consecutive working days or shifts, the employee shall be paid acting pay calculated from the date on which he or she commenced to act as if he or she had been appointed to that higher classification level for the period in which he or she acts.

(b) When a day designated as a paid holiday occurs during the qualifying period, the holiday shall be considered as a day worked for purposes of the qualifying period. When interpreting collective agreement language, it is important to break down the provision by conditions and obligations. Then, it is easier to separate what the provision does say, from what it does not say.

For the entitlement to acting pay to take effect, there are 3 conditions to be satisfied ….

Continue reading in the “Acting Pay: Some Principles” handout (pdf), developed by the PSAC education section.

Members across the Province wore black last week in support of their bargaining teams. Cheers to Mandi Schubert, CEIU 20975 (Government Street Service Canada office, Victoria) for sending in these photos!

The next day of action to wear black is on the 19th! Contact your Treasury Board Area Strike coordinator for more information.

Click the thumbnails for a larger view!

Team Presents Thousands of Petition Signatures to CBSA at Bargaining Table, FB Workers at CBSA Send Clear Message to Management

This past week (Feb 25 – 29), our bargaining team met with CBSA/Treasury Board in an effort to bring the parties closer to a new contract. During the session, our team presented management with petitions containing well over 5,000 signatures from CBSA employees in support of our core demands in this round of bargaining for our first FB contract: Job Security in the context of the arming initiative, wages that meet the standards set by enforcement workers in other jurisdictions, respect for both our years of service and our work as union members, protection of Alternative Working Arrangements and safe working conditions for members with enforcement responsibilities. Our team explained to management that our members are determined to achieve a fair contract that addresses these concerns. The employer’s team committed to deliver the petitions to senior CBSA administration this week.

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