February 8, 2012
Employer needs to address no-cost, low-cost and operational issues
Your Bargaining Team resumed negotiations with Treasury Board from January 31st through February 2nd, our sixth session of contract talks since initially exchanging proposals in April, 2011.
Due to illness, the Treasury Board negotiator has been replaced by an individual who bargained the PA collective agreement with PSAC during the expedited round in the fall of 2010.
Because of the change in Employer negotiators, the TC Bargaining Team reviewed with management representatives all of our non-economic demands. We feel very strongly that Treasury Board has a moral obligation to address no-cost, low-cost and operational issues in this round of bargaining.
Non-economic demands
The non-economic package includes proposals such as but not limited to: parking for employees with disabilities; expansion of the no-harassment language in the Collective Agreement; injury-on-duty leave; maternity-related reassignment or leave; and adding gender identity and expression, and political activity, to the prohibited grounds of discrimination in Article 19.
Hours of work (Article 25)
In addition, we reviewed with the Employer team our proposals in Article 25 – Hours of Work. These proposals are intended to prevent management from arbitrarily changing shifts by requiring them to post shift schedules 30 days in advance; and requiring them to pay an overtime penalty for changing an employee's shift with less than 14 days' notice; as well as to guarantee rest periods to all TC members unless in exceptional circumstances operational requirements do not permit.
Retention and recruitment
After giving very careful consideration to the Allowances in Appendix P, your Bargaining Team put forward proposals to increase retention and/or recruitment allowances for Transport Canada TI Civil Aviation, Marine and Rail Safety Inspectors; and add such allowances for TIs in Measurement Canada; for Labour Affairs Officer TIs in HRSDC; and for EGs who are laboratory and x-ray technologists at the Percy E. Moore and Norway House federal hospitals in Manitoba. The proposals on Appendix P follow the tabling of our Pay Proposal last December, and are a symptom of our broken classification system.
We reminded Treasury Board's new negotiator that the pattern settlement reached in the fall of 2010 wasn't acceptable to the TC team then, and it isn't acceptable now. We impressed upon the Treasury Board team that we are at a critical stage in negotiations. We made it crystal clear that fair wages for all TC members are long overdue. Wage gaps must be addressed in this round of bargaining.
Workforce adjustment
The TC Bargaining Team also tabled principles for changes to Appendix T – Workforce Adjustment to better protect our members faced with layoffs.
Sea Lamprey Unit
Finally, after many sessions spent trying to resolve issues relating to the Sea Lamprey Control Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, your committee was pleased to be able to sign off on amendments to Appendix I.
Next bargaining session
We are back at the bargaining table for a full week on February 20th, 2012, and have also scheduled a negotiating session in early March.
Your Bargaining Team members appreciate the invitations they have had from the various Locals across Canada to visit the work sites and provide TC Bargaining updates.
Thank your for your support as we continue the tough slogging toward a fair and decent Collective Agreement with Treasury Board.
http://www.psac-afpc.com/news/2012/bargaining/20120208-e.shtml
