News and Political Action

• The federal government says it has missed its self-imposed deadline to clear the backlog of payroll problems caused by its troubled Phoenix pay system. CTV National News reports - interviews with PSAC members in Ottawa and National Executive VP Chris Aylward.
   
• The largest federal union says it has decided to return to the bargaining table this week with the federal government’s promise of a “revised mandate” that could revive stalled contract talks - Robyn Benson is quoted in the Ottawa Citizen.
   
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question on the Phoenix pay system from Lauren Baert, a frustrated PSAC activist, at the Canadian Labour Congress National Young Workers Summit in Ottawa - video from CBC and the full story here.
   
• Robyn Benson on CFRA Radio talking about PSAC's Make Good on Your Word campaign and bargaining - audio at soundcloud.
   
• Problems with the Phoenix pay system have been brought up several times in Parliament, including a Statement in the House by Murray Rankin, MP for Victoria - we have all the video at the PSAC facebook page (scroll down to the Phoenix playlist).

• PSAC members took to the streets all over Canada on Monday, demonstrating that they are haunted by the Phoenix pay system failure and in need of a fair collective agreement with the federal government. Read the update at psacunion.ca and check out the photos from BC.

• We are very proud to let you know that Bowinn Ma, a PSAC member working at Vancouver Airport, and Janet Routledge, former PSAC BC Regional Coordinator, have both been nominated as candidates for the NDP in the next provincial election. We look forward to working with both of them.

• The Regional Executive Vice President's report, reports from PSAC BC Regional Council members, and the minutes presented at the October 2016 Regional Council meeting are now available at the regional website.
   
• At their October meeting, the Regional Council passed a motion put forward by the PSAC BC Environment Committee endorsing the Council of Canadians campaign that calls on Canadians to pledge to not buy bottled water and to boycott Nestlé products. We encourage all PSAC members in BC to take the pledge today.

Tools for members

• It's that time of year again! The 2017 PSAC calendars are expected to arrive in Regional Offices at the end of November - contact your Local Executive or your PSAC Regional Office if you would like some for your worksite.

• Treasury Board: Last week Treasury Board indicated that they have a revised mandate on some of the key issues in this round of bargaining and our teams are at the table right now. Negotiations are scheduled to go until November 7 and we will keep you up to date.
• CRA:  The tentative agreement with CRA has been ratified and signed. The employer has a maximum of 150 days as of October 25 to adjust wages, and pay out retroactive payments and the one-time lump sum. If you have any questions about the contract, speak with your Local President, or visit our FAQ page for more information.
• CFIA: The Employer and our CFIA bargaining team met in Ottawa on October 4 to 6, 2016, where the parties reviewed all non-monetary proposals - here's the full update. The parties will be back at the table on December 6.
• Parks: Our bargaining team met with the Parks Canada from October 25 to 27.The team tabled proposals to amend to current workforce adjustment provisions contained in Appendix “K” of the collective agreement in an effort to improve employment security for our members. More at the national website.
• Canada Post: Our bargaining team met with the Corporation October 18 and 19. The employer gave several presentations on the state of the business, and we exchanged proposals, which are available at the national website. The next meeting is scheduled for January - we'll keep you up to date.
• IMP Group, Comox: We are still awaiting a response from the employer regarding arbitration, your Local Executive will have more information when it becomes available.
• Commissionaires, Vancouver Island: Bargaining gets underway soon - team elections will take place next month, contact your Local Executive for more info.
• Vancouver Airport: Bargaining with YVR has begun. The team is looking forward to productive discussions resulting in a fair collective agreement that values the work of members at the airport. We will keep you up to date as the process unfolds.
• Nordion: Bargaining is on-going, contact your Local Executive for more information.
• CMHC Granville Island: The bargaining input process is underway, contact your Local Executive for more information.

Union Education

The PSAC BC Education Program is pleased to offer three $500 education subsidies to PSAC BC members who are registering for the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School in 2017. The deadline for receipt of your subsidy application for the CLC Winter School is close of business on November 21st, 2016. In addition to the specific subsidies for the Winter School, there is some additional funding set aside for subsidies to other non-PSAC union related training. For more information and the application form, visit the regional website.

Upcoming courses in BC ...

• Talking Union Basics, Vancouver, Nov 19 & 20

• Grievance Handling, Victoria, Dec 3 & 4

Meetings and Events



Celebrate PSAC’s 50th Anniversary - Vancouver, November 29: A number of PSAC members from across the province will be in Vancouver for the BC Federation of Labour convention and we thought this would provide an excellent opportunity for PSAC members in the Lower Mainland to get together, network, and celebrate PSAC’s 50th Anniversary. We’ll provide the snacks; you provide the conversation! In order to help us plan, please RSVP online here. All members invited!

TPP Town Hall, November 22: The Trans-Pacific Partnership threatens tens-of-thousands of Canadian jobs, will lead to higher prescription drug costs and threatens our health care system. The Canadian Labour Congress is holding a Town Hall Meeting on this important issue - information and registration here.

You got all the way to the bottom, <<First Name>>! This is the longest newsletter we've ever sent out - there's a lot going on.

Patrick Bragg
PSAC Vancouver Regional Office
604 430 5631 | 1 800 663 1655

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