Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

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Your PA negotiating team finished its work on our pay proposal and spent two days, April 23 and 24, with the Treasury Board team.

Our proposal has three significant elements:

1. Adjusting our salaries to keep them in line with other federal public sector employers

We’re proposing what are known as “market adjustments” so that salary rates in the PA unit are in line with comparable jobs in the federal public sector – particularly the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Effective June 21, 2007, before applying an economic increase, we’re proposing that job rates (the maximum rate) for each classification, except WPs, be increased to the job rates for comparable positions at CRA when they were converted to their new classifications on November 1, 2007. To ensure that none of our members are left behind, we’ve also asked for increases to job rates for the small number of classifications and levels that can’t be compared to CRA. These market adjustments, if implemented, would result in increases to all pay rates.

In the case of WP positions, and two groups of PM-4 positions with enforcement responsibilities, we’re proposing adjustments based on the results of an Enforcement Study conducted for the Union by compensation consultants Morneau Sobeco. For WPs, we’re proposing to increase all job rates, which would result in an increase to all WP pay rates. For PM-4 wildlife officers and fishery officers with enforcement duties, we’re proposing an annual allowance, on top of the market adjustment for PM-4s, outlined above.

2. Changes to our system of increments

Right now there are differences in the number of increments for each of the groups in the PA bargaining unit. In order to even this out, we’re proposing that there be a job rate (the maximum rate) and two increments for most levels in each classification. The period between increments would in most cases be 52 weeks and the difference between most levels in each classification would be 4%.
Deep discounts shouldn’t apply to your job

We’re proposing this change to stop the employer’s practice of discounting your job. We understand that some members see the increments as a way for the employer to recognize their years of service. But think again. The actual value of each classification is the maximum rate. Increments are calculated downwards from that rate. In other words, every year that you are not at your maximum rate, the employer is devaluing your work, not recognizing it. We want to reduce the number of years the employer can take advantage and pay you less than your job is worth. Fewer increments mean more years at the maximum rate of pay.

3. A fair economic increase

After applying market adjustments and fixing up the increment system, we’re proposing economic increases of

• 4.5% - effective June 21, 2007
• 4.5% - effective June 21, 2008
• 4.5% - effective June 21, 2009

The full details of our pay proposal will be posted on the PSAC web site soon.

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The factors that go into developing a pay demand

Our Union considers a number of factors when putting together a pay demand.

1. We examine what other workers are being paid who are doing comparable work and we make direct comparisons with PSAC members working for other federal employers.

We use union research, sometimes supplemented by compensation studies, to see what workers are being paid for comparable jobs both in the public and private sectors. With this data, we can propose what are known as “market adjustment” increases. These increases are designed to keep the federal government competitive as an employer. In an economy with low rates of unemployment and an aging workforce, that’s important. Our negotiating teams for each Treasury Board unit are determining what “market adjustment” increases are needed for their members. Look for more information on proposed adjustments in upcoming bulletins from the negotiating teams.

1. We calculate what we need to give our members some real economic improvement that reflects the continued strength of the Canadian economy and protects against inflation.
2. We consider what kinds of increases other workers are negotiating.

Our demand for 2007-2008-2009

For this round of negotiations, we’re proposing:

• an economic increase of 4.5%,
• in each year of a three-year collective agreement,
• retroactive to the first day of the new three-year agreement (the date in 2007 will vary by bargaining unit),
• that applies to all members covered by the agreement.

This proposal has already been tabled with Treasury Board for the PA and FB units and will be soon for the SV unit.

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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.

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There is also have a link dedicated to TB bargaining on our regional website - look for !
This week: TB-Area Coordinators are distributing an info flyer on current negotiations. Please help get these flyers out to your members, Union boards, lunch rooms. Help spread the word, support your bargaining teams!

In Solidarity, Monica Urrutia, TB-RSC for BC Mainland

Your SV Team was in Ottawa from January 29 to February 1, 2008, to meet with the Employer.Our efforts this week focused on pay zones and the apprenticeship issue. On Article 44, Maternity-Related Reassignment or Leave, the SV group experiences unique work issues around finding alternate work for pregnant and nursing members in workplaces that are hazardous or where the nature of the work poses a health threat to the members.

Ongoing discussions continued on allowances that included height pay, transportation of dangerous goods, NERT and dirty work. Talks centred on broadening the scope of allowances, as well as the method of their payment.

There were meaningful discussions on the apprenticeship issue, with movement on the Employer’s part to entertain this issue.

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All of the PSAC negotiating teams for our Treasury Board units met with the employer in bargaining sessions in May and June. During those sessions, the five teams tabled our bargaining demands reflecting the improvements we are trying to achieve. However, Treasury Board also has come to the bargaining table with their demands, many of which require an immense amount of interpretation.

For instance, the Employer wishes to discuss a new approach to pay. Since our initial discussions at the bargaining table focus on non-monetary demands, it will be some time down the road before the employer’s position on any monetary issue is known.

Treasury Board wants:

• the elimination of additional sick leave for shift workers,
• the elimination of the right to have a complete and current job description,
• the elimination of vacation advance payments

The employer is also asking for:

• a reduction in the amount of vacation leave members can carry over,
• a reduction in the amount of overtime part time workers can claim,
• reductions to call back and reporting pay entitlements,
• a reduction in the number of situations where double time for overtime work would apply,
• a reduction in the notice period for changes to shift schedule from 7 days to 48 hours.

The employer also wants to increase and/or adjust core working hours for some groups and have indicated they intend to table demands on severance pay and Work Force Adjustment.

Although some Employer demands are unclear at this point, many are perfectly clear. Your bargaining teams are committed to saying NO to any demand calling for a roll-back in current terms and conditions of employment.

The negotiating teams are back at the bargaining table in October. Check back for regular bargaining updates.

The negotiating teams for all five PSAC Treasury Board bargaining units were in negotiations this month. In addition to bargaining, the teams held a joint meeting on June 9 to share information. Here’s what happened at each bargaining table.

Our Program and Administrative Services (PA) negotiating team met with Treasury Board from June 5th to 7th/8th. They made a presentation to the employer on language training and will be tabling language on this issue during the next set of meetings. A number of articles currently in the collective agreement were signed off as renewed. These were articles for which neither side had any demands. Every member of the team had the opportunity to speak to one or more of our demands at the table and to engage with the employer on issues specific to this bargaining unit.

Our Operational Services (SV) team also met with Treasury Board on June 5th to 7th. The Union responded to and asked a number of questions of clarification on several items, and the parties traded preliminary thoughts on outstanding classification and apprenticeship issues. The parties also signed off on 19 renewable articles on which no demands had been made by either side, and which are not impacted by any new proposals, and a handful of editorial changes required as a result of the Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA).

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The PSAC negotiating teams for all five Treasury Board bargaining units were in Ottawa during the week of May 14 for their first face-to-face meetings with the employer teams. The purpose of these meetings was to formally introduce the members of both teams and review the demands exchanged electronically last month. The chief negotiator for each team read through the demands and entertained preliminary questions to clarify the intent of each demand.

During the week, all five PSAC teams took time to meet and exchange information and share their perspectives on the initial negotiating sessions.

On May 14, members of the teams joined in a demonstration in support of the elimination of regional rates of pay. They joined thousands of other members who participated in similar activities across the country.

• More about the No Zones campaign.

The Technical Services unit negotiating team greatly appreciated the support of the Transportation Safety Board members of PSAC’s Union of Canadian Transportation Employees component who sent them a balloon-o-gram that really lifted their spirits. Thank you!

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A key issue: eliminating regional rates of pay

OTTAWA – Bargaining for over 100,000 federal public sector workers is beginning as the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) meets today in Ottawa with the federal government.

According to PSAC National President John Gordon, delegates to the PSAC convention in 2006 adopted a comprehensive policy to defend quality public services. “The union has tabled a number of bargaining demands that are designed to maintain and enhance federal public services in response to a Conservative government whose ideology is one of smaller government and by extension, fewer and less effective services for Canadians.”

PSAC started getting ready for this round of negotiations in the summer of 2006 when it sent out its input call to union Locals and Branches for bargaining proposals. Members participated in two regional bargaining conferences and a national bargaining conference where delegates finalized bargaining demands and chose the members of the negotiating teams.

“The union served notice to bargain at the earliest possible date before the expiry date of each of the five agreements,” says Gordon. “The parties exchanged demands on April 27 and for the first time we’re starting negotiations before any of these agreements expire. We’re ready and eager to negotiate.”

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This round of Treasury Board bargaining began in the summer of 2006, with a call to Local/Branch members for bargaining input. A comprehensive Program of Demands package was sent to all Local/Branch Executives. The bargaining input you forwarded to your Component was reviewed by bargaining unit. That input was reduced to wage demands and 30 non-wage proposals and sent to the union’s national bargaining conference held in February. At this conference, members elected negotiating team members and debated and decided upon the bargaining proposals that would be presented to the employer.

The demands for each of the Treasury Board bargaining units are a result of broad-based input and debate by members of these bargaining units and we thank you for your participation in the process.

Download the demands at the national website.

PSAC Bargaining Units with Treasury Board (PA, SV, TC, EB, FB) - It’s time to begin bargaining!

PSAC has already started to put the Treasury Board on notice that we’re getting ready to bargain. The union had committed that, in this round of bargaining, notice to bargain would be served at the earliest possible legal date – four months before the expiry dates of each of the agreements – and that bargaining would begin before these agreements expire.

Notice to bargain for the Program and Administrative Services (PA) and Frontière/Border Services (FB) units was served on February 21, 2007 and the notice for Technical Services (TC) sent on February 22.

Notice to bargain for the Education and Library Science (EB) unit was served on March 1, 2007 while the notice for the Operational Services (SV) unit will be served on April 5, 2007.

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As soon as the Western Regional Bargaining Conference came to an end in Vancouver on December 3, the PSAC began to focus its efforts on the National Conference to be held in Ottawa in February 2007.

Much like their sisters and brothers had done in Montreal in November, some 175 delegates gathered in Vancouver to discuss, on December 2 and 3, strategies that will guide the next round of bargaining affecting 90 000 members at Treasury Board and 5 000 members at Parks Canada. They were also given an overview of the impact of the PSLRA on the upcoming round.

Delegates from BC chosen at the Conference to represent members at the National Bargaining Conference:

• PA: Megan Adam, Virginia Vaillancourt, Sargy Chima, alternate
• SV: Randy Sanderson, Melvin Dureen, Gino Chicorelli, alternate
• EB: Gord Miller, Céline Bélanger
• TC: Darrell-Lee McKenzie, Peter Wills, Todd Genereux, alternate
• FB: Carolyn McGillivray, Alex Bishop, Sean McGovern, Karim Lawji, and Dan Sullivan alternate. (corrected)
• Parks Canada (Western Region): Kevin King, Omar Murray, Carrie Docken, Andre Paul, Patrick Harvey, Jeanne Freer, Lisbeth Edwards and Susan Kjartanson, alternates

More details and photos at the national website.

The Public Service Labour Relations Board ruled on July 7, 2006 that a firefighter fitness test adopted and implemented by the Department of National Defence is discriminatory on the basis of age and sex.

The Board’s adjucator also directed the employer “to immediately cease using the eight minute standard as a condition of employment for DND firefighters”.

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Here’s a handy-dandy list of the groups represented at Treasury Board Tables 1,2,3 and 5

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