Patience. That’s the watchword for your CFIA bargaining team as we continue to wait for the release of recommendations from the Public Interest Commission (PIC) held in Ottawa in mid-February.
Like negotiations with many other PSAC bargaining units and the federal government or its agencies, bargaining with CFIA has been frustratingly slow and marked by continual delays on the part of the Employer.
PSAC applied for a PIC after the Employer unilaterally broke off negotiations in April, 2012. The Employer’s bargaining team applied for mediation at essentially the same time. After mediation attempts in January failed, both sides presented their positions on outstanding issues to the Public Interest Commission. (See: PSAC brief to Public Interest Commission[21MB, 210pp PDF]) The PIC consists of an independent chairperson mutually agreed upon by the parties, and a sidesperson representing each party.
Normally the PIC has 30 days to write its recommendations to the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB), but the independent chairperson sought agreement from the parties for additional time. The PSAC sidesperson has now been advised that it is likely that the PSLRB will release the report by September.
The recommendations of the PIC are not binding on the parties, but it is expected that they will carry considerable weight as the parties try to achieve a negotiated settlement.
Your Bargaining Team thanks you for your support and is looking forward to a return to the bargaining table. Please continue to check this website for further developments.
Date Modified : 2013/07/18
