News and Political Action
 

• REVP Jamey Mills is quoted in this article in the Victoria Times Colonist: MP Randall Garrison is calling on the Liberal government to put money in this month’s budget to replace the troubled Phoenix payroll system and clear a backlog of issues affecting thousands of federal employees.

• In the run up to the federal budget: Public service unions are looking for significant investment for Phoenix replacement. Chris Aylward is quoted at cbc.ca.
   
• Federal budget reaction from PSAC: Phoenix funding improves, but falls short of ending pay nightmares and compensating workers. Video from CBC and CTV.
   
• Chanting, cheers and jeers filled Government Street outside a federal services building Friday as employees voiced their ongoing frustration over the Phoenix payroll system. Over 300 members rallied in Victoria on March 22. A report from CTV Vancouver Island with video here.

Photos & Video: Rally with Chris Aylward & Magali Picard in Victoria

• Over three hundred members helped kick off PSAC President Chris Aylward and Vice-President Magali Picard's cross-country mobilization tour at a rally in Victoria on March 22. Members expressed their support or our bargaining teams and sent a clear message to the government: with federal elections coming this Fall, Justin Trudeau can still keep his commitment to public servants and the essential services they provide to the public, but time is running out. Click for a report and some photos and a quick video message from Chris and Magali.

• PSAC welcomes the new funding commitments made in today’s budget to address the Phoenix pay disaster, but they fall significantly short of what is required to end the pay nightmares of Canada’s federal public service workers. More at the national website.
   
• What the 2019 Federal Budget means for PSAC members: full budget analysis here.

• PSAC members have long benefited from discounts on a number of products and services, but as of April 2nd, members will have many additional options to save as part of our new partnership with Union Savings.  Together, with unions across the country, Union Savings offers a wide variety of regularly updated discounts for you and your family members. More information at the national website.
   
• PSAC BC has partnered with Baka Communications to provide a limited time special offer for PSAC members on talk, text and data plans from Bell. More information in the poster here or at baka.ca. Help us let members know: print a copy of the poster for your workplace bulletin board!

• Retiring from the Public Service of Canada: Some Useful Tips - the updated 2019 version of the PSAC publication, “Retiring from the Public Service of Canada: Some Useful Tips” is now available. Copies are available from your PSAC Regional Office and can also be downloaded here.

• Canada Revenue Agency: Mediation between PSAC/UTE and the Canada Revenue Agency is taking place this week in Ottawa. Watch for an update soon.
   
• Treasury Board (PA, TC, SV & EB): PSAC's bargaining teams only saw small movement from the government at talks held in March despite a rapidly closing window for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deliver on his commitment to public service workers - read the full update here. Contact your Regional Office, Local Executive, or Mobilization Coordinator to find out how you can take action to show the employer you want a fair contract with real improvements to wages and working conditions.
   
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency: The CFIA bargaining team met with the employer last week - watch for an update soon.
   
• Parks Canada: Negotiations with Parks Canada continued at a slow pace in March. But despite the employer’s lack of movement, the team pushed forward, using the bargaining session to provide more information and rationale to the employer on our bargaining proposals. The teams are back at the table at the end of April, we'll keep you up to date.
   
• CBSA (FB): The FB bargaining team's third meeting with the employer takes place next week - watch for an update. The Union and employer bargaining proposals are available at the national website.
   
• Swissport (YVR):  The team met with the employer this week, we'll keep you up to date. Contact your Local Executive to find out how you can support your bargaining team.
   
• Commissionaires: Bargaining dates have been scheduled for May. Stay tuned for updates as the process moves forward.
   
• Victoria Airport: Bargaining is anticipated to begin soon - a membership meeting is scheduled for early May. Contact your Local Executive for more information.
   

Union Education

Knowledge is power - take a course today!

Thanks for reading <<First Name>>!

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