News and Political Action
 

• "Three years is three years too long." PSAC national president Chris Aylward on CBC's Power & Politics talking about the latest on Phoenix. Here's the video clip.
   
• The country's biggest civil-service union declared a victory for its members as the Trudeau government moved to change a tax rule that has caused headaches for federal employees overpaid by the problem-plagued public service pay system. Chris is quoted at CBC.ca.
   
• Greg McGillis, PSAC's REVP for the NCR, also talked to CTV news about the proposed new tax rules for Phoenix overpayments. Here's the clip.
   

• The 2019 PSAC calendars are now available for download as PDF at the national website.

• PSAC BC was recently copied on a letter from a member working at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to Jonathan Wilkinson, her Member of Parliament in North Vancouver. We have posted it at the regional website with her permission and it's well worth reading.
   

• PSAC BC has developed a short workshop that can be held over the lunch period that aims to demystify the Treasury Board bargaining process and update members on the important demands we have on the table in this round of negotiations. If your local or worksite is interested in hosting a session, contact your PSAC Regional Representative.
   

• On the third anniversary of Phoenix, PSAC members will come together to further increase pressure on the government for urgent action. On February 28, PSAC will hold a rally in the National Capital Region to kick off a series of escalated actions around the country in demand of: more concrete action to reduce Phoenix cases; a real timeline to end these pay nightmares; and damages to compensate the hundreds of thousands of public service workers who have been impacted. Read more and sign up to be notified about events taking place in BC.
   

• PSAC produces a wide variety of toolkits, booklets and resource guides for activists and Locals. We have collected them at the regional website as a resource for members.

• Members in BC are currently in bargaining with SSO, CRA, Treasury Board, CFIA, Parks, CBSA, Swissport at YVR and the Corps of Commissionaires. If you're in one of these units, here's a Facebook profile photo frame you can use to show your support for your bargaining team!

• Statistical Survey Operations: We are headed for arbitration and will keep you up to date as the process moves forward.
   
• Canada Revenue Agency: At the end of the last bargaining session with the CRA the PSAC/UTE bargaining team declared impasse and filed for the creation of a Public Interest Commission with the Public Service Labour Relations Board.
   
• Treasury Board (PA, TC, SV & EB): The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board refused to establish a Public Interest Commission, which could have brought PSAC and the government closer to reaching an agreement. We have secured new bargaining dates this month and will keep you up to date as we move forward. 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 is scheduled to meet with the employer at the end of February. Watch for an update.
   
• Parks Canada: The Parks bargaining team met with the employer January 30 and 31 to exchange proposals and begin negotiations. Unfortunately, the team was faced with an employer who had little to exchange and was unprepared to have meaningful discussions. We expect the employer to return to the table in March better prepared and ready to negotiate fairly with Parks Canada members.
   
• CBSA (FB): The FB bargaining team's first meeting with the employer took place in early January. The team made it clear to the TB/CBSA that the union’s goals for this round of bargaining are to further close the gap with the broader law enforcement community, fix problems in the workplace and ensure new rights and protections.
   
• Kamloops Airport: Members at YKA ratified a new collective agreement earlier this week. The new five-year agreement contains a fair wage increase and will usher in better and safer working conditions for members at the airport.
   
• Purolator: We are happy to report that the Purolator bargaining team achieved a tentative agreement with the employer earlier this week. Ratification details will be available soon. 
   
• Swissport (YVR):  The team met with the employer January 8, 9 and exchanged demands, the next bargaining dates are set for April. Contact your Local Executive for more information.
   
• Commissionaires: The bargaining team met in early January and we have served notice to bargain. Stay tuned for updates as the process moves forward.

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