News and Political Action

• Prime Minister Trudeau was met by protesters at a Liberal party fundraising event in Kingston. PSAC national president Chris Aylward was there.
   
• One year after instituting a special "pay pod" system to deal with the controversial Phoenix pay system's ongoing backlog, Ottawa says it's showing results. Magali Picard, PSAC national executive VP, is quoted at CBC.ca.
   
• Nearly three years after launching the Phoenix pay system, the federal government is still trying to fix training issues. Reaction from Magali at CBC.ca.

• We should all be proud of the work we have done together. Read REVP Jamey Mills' year end message at the regional website.

• At our latest bargaining talks, the Liberal government proposed a 2-year wage freeze for the 90,000 PSAC members whose departments fall under Treasury Board negotiations. Following the talks, we declared bargaining impasse and filed for a Public Interest Commission. In this quick video, Chris explains how we got there.

• PSAC members in Prince Rupert summed up how they feel about Treasury Board's .75% wage offer and the Phoenix pay system by making some cookies. They delivered them to Nathan Cullen's MP office to say thank you for the actions he's taken to support and assist federal government workers affected by the Phoenix pay debacle and called on him to support PSAC's demand for a national inquiry.

• If you're on Facebook, here's a profile photo frame you can use to show your support for our bargaining teams!

• Statistical Survey Operations: We are headed for arbitration and will keep you up to date as the process moves forward.
   
• Canada Revenue Agency: The PSAC/UTE bargaining team met with the CRA on December 3-6 and tabled the wage proposal. While there was considerable discussion on several matters of concern to our members, Agency representatives did not respond with meaningful counter-proposals.
   
• Treasury Board (PA, TC, SV & EB): PSAC has declared impasse and filed for a Public Interest Commission to help negotiations 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: PSAC has filed a complaint under the FPSLRA against CFIA over the employer's failure to meet the implementation deadline for the latest collective agreement. We'll keep you up to date as bargaining moves forward.
   
• Parks Canada: The Parks bargaining team is working on scheduling dates with the employer, watch for updates.
   
• CBSA (FB): PSAC filed a complaint on December 21 against Treasury Board/CBSA over the delay to implementing salary adjustments and retroactive pay. The FB bargaining team's first meeting with the employer is scheduled for the week of January 7, 2019. Watch for an update.
   
• Kamloops Airport: The next round of bargaining is scheduled for February 2019. Contact your Local Executive for an update.
   
• Purolator: The bargaining team is meeting with a mediator and the employer in early February, watch for updates. To find out how you can help support the team during a tough round of negotiations, contact a member of your Local Executive or Vic Johal in the PSAC Vancouver Office.
   
• Swissport (YVR):  The bargaining team is scheduled to meet with the employer next week. We'll keep you up to date as bargaining unfolds.
   
• NAV CANADA: PSAC members working for NAV Canada have ratified a new collective agreement.

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