The Local Bargaining Committee
Collective bargaining is the most important aspect of the union’s work and, as a Local Officer, 3. you have to play a key role in the collective bargaining process. Be aware of and acquire a gener- 4. al working knowledge of the legislation that governs the local members. Contact your Regional PSAC Office or Component for the applicable labour legislation for your local and for technical expertise and advice in interpreting and applying the legislation.
PSAC regulation 15 of the Constitution governs the process of collective bargaining in the Alliance. This regulation stipulates that Locals shall establish Standing Bargaining Proposal Committees to prepare bargaining proposals based on a review of membership experience under their collective agreement, to request and receive bargaining proposals from members, and to submit bargaining proposals to their Component or to their Negotiating Committee.
The activities of the Local Bargaining Committee should be as follows:
1. Keep informed throughout negotiations. The sources of information available to the Local Bargaining Committee are:
- Delegates at the respective bargaining committees and on negotiating teams;
- The PSAC Regional Office;
- The Component Service Officer.
Both the Alliance and the Component publish up-dates on the status of negotiations for all the groups who are in negotiations.
2. Keep a contract clause book. That is, keep a record of all the clauses in the collective agreement which have been the source of problems, i.e., complaints, grievances, arbitration/ adjudication cases. This enables you to quickly identify which clauses are giving problems, how they should be modified and why. It will also help the delegates on the bargaining committees at the Local , Component and the Alliance level argue in favour of the change.
3. Have a breakdown of the members by bargaining group.
4. Know who is where and to what bargaining group they belong. Once a tentative agreement is reached, it is time for ratification. The committee will need to distribute the ratification kits and ensure that all the members ill good standing can exercise their right to vote on the tentative agreement.
5. Be familiar with the bargaining process.
6. Have a copy of the appropriate legislation and a copy of PSAC Regulation 15 which explains in detail the internal bargaining process.
7. Read the new collective agreement and be familiar with changes.
Because collective bargaining is the most important activity of the union, it is really in these activities that the meaning of the Local as the union at the workplace becomes reality.
Local Strike Committee
The right to strike is an extension of the collective bargaining process for all units under the conciliation route.
The conduct of a strike in a Local falls under the responsibility of the strike captain. As a Local Officer, however, you have to provide both leadership and moral support in organizing committees necessary to ensure the success of the strike. One of these committees will be the Local Strike Headquarters Committee. It will usually be composed of the Local Executive and the Chairperson of the strike committees. Their main function will consist of keeping the Local members informed and unified in the strike action.
Several committees can be set up to help the members on strike in your Local. The Alliance publishes a strike manual which outlines the PSAC strike administration policy, the strike program, strike committees, as well as the PSAC Resolution 6 on emergency funds.
As Local Officers you should be familiar with the contents of this manual and you are also urged to attend all special strike courses and seminars.
Local Political Action Committee
Local Political Action Committees deal primarily at the membership level with activities or actions enaged in during a PSAC Political Action Campaign. Some of these activities will consist of specifically tailored education courses, seminars, meetings or rallies; regular distribution of specific relevant information; defining the pursuits and responsibilities of Local organizations and members.
The membership contact system is an organizing tool. It is a one-to-one communication situation between a Steward/Local Officer and a member and is designed to be carried out by the steward network. It permits spontaneous dialogue whereby the member is able to ask questions and express opinions about the topic being canvassed. This method has a lot of potential for the Local and can be used ‘to increase the membership of an action program planned, a special local issue or any topic the Local wishes to bring to the attention of the membership.
Local Women’s Committees
The Local Women’s Committee exists to provide a forum. to discuss women’s concerns, to organize around women’s issues and to work together collectively in the workplace.
Local Human Rights Committee
This Committee is established to ensure that discrimination of any kind is eliminated and employment equity policies are promoted and implemented at the Local level, through the process of negotiation and consultation with management. Sometimes these committees are known as Racially Visible Action Committee (RVAC), Visible Minority Action Committee (VMAC), Members with Disabilities Committee (MDAC) and Lesbian and Gay Committee.
These committees undertake to educate the Local membership in understanding human rights’ issues and thus to eliminate prejudice amongst the membership.
It further encourages members to collaborate with other organizations such as the Provincial Federations of Labour, the Canadian Labour Congress, and cornmunity organizations, dealing with human rights and the elimination of discrimination.
To accomplish these objectives the members of the Human Rights Committees and the Women’s Committee should have input into the local bargaining committee, at labour-management consultation committees and generally promote and educate the membership.
Education Committee
The PSAC offers a wide range of union courses through the Regional Office. They range from basic introductory courses, through weekend courses for stewards to advanced courses offered in a residential setting on such topics as union leadership, political action, women and human rights.
The Local Education Committee plays an important role in advertizing these courses among the membership and matching interested members with the course that best suit their needs. Another important role is to identify the learning needs of the local membership for educational seminars in the workplace or for other weekend courses. Check the education page for details on upcoming PSAC Courses.
Alliance Facilitators
Of increasing importance are Alliance Facilitators. Alliance Facilitators are PSAC local activists whose primary role is to lead short seminars at or near the workplace on topics of immediate and urgent interest to the Local. Interested members who are committed to delivering education in their workplaces receive training through the Alliance Facilitators Training Program.
Alliance Facilitators bring union education to the members. These seminars can range in length from one hour to one day, depending on the subject matters and the needs of the Local members.