News and Political Action

• PSAC is demanding a base pay increase of more than 11% over the next three years for public servants who faithfully go to work, never knowing whether they will be paid properly — if at all — by the fickle Phoenix pay system. iPolitics.ca reports on Treasury Board bargaining, with quotes from Chris Aylward, PSAC national president.
   
• Federal unions want the Trudeau government to repeal Harper-era labour legislation that, they say, watered down collective bargaining rights and gave the government the power to unilaterally take away public servants’ sick leave. Chris is quoted at iPolitics.ca.
   
• The new pay-equity law the federal Liberals are proposing should close Canada's "shameful" gender gap and private-sector employers should follow the government's example. Response to new federal pay-equity legislation from Chris and federal labour leaders.
   
• The union that represents lighthouse keepers on the B.C. coast is calling on the Canadian Coast Guard to deal with what it describes as "critical" staffing shortages. Barry Tchir, Union of Communication Transportation Employees VP, is quoted in stories at CBC.ca and the Victoria Times Colonist.

• For several years, the Phoenix payroll system has been incorrectly collecting membership dues from nearly 150,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Thousands of federal public service workers have been overpaying or underpaying union dues.
   
• In November, the government will finally be in a position to fix these Phoenix errors, and PSAC members will see the correct dues amount on their paycheques moving forward. More information and FAQs at the national website.

• PSAC has launched a series of video ads and a petition in support of our union’s ongoing campaign for a universal, affordable, and quality child care system. The short videos highlight the absurdity of the current situation faced by families in Canada. As it stands now, the majority of parents must rely on a patchwork of largely unregulated childcare, with no guarantee of quality. Watch the videos and sign and share the petition!
   

• After almost a year of negotiations, members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers started rotating strikes on Monday, October 22. Read the letter Jamey Mills, Regional Executive Vice President for BC, wrote to the Prime Minister calling on him to show respect for postal workers and to direct Canada Post to negotiate in good faith.
   
• The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of Postal Communications Employees National Executive is appalled to learn that Canada Post management has decided to discontinue sick leave provisions for Canadian Union of Postal Workers employees during rotating strikes, despite the majority of impacted employees remaining actively at work. Read more at the national website.

• PSAC secured an important victory last month when the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that a member should be compensated for the sexual harassment and assault she experienced in her workplace. 
   
• PSAC has successfully challenged, through a policy grievance, a Canada Border Services Agency breach of the Border Services collective agreement. This victory at the will see over $1 million returned to the Border Services members affected and sets a precedent for any future pay allowances negotiated with the federal government.

• PSAC members in BC took action on October 31 to show the government how we feel after almost three years of Phoenix pay problems and to call on Treasury Board negotiators come to the bargaining table to ready to respond to our proposals and begin meaningful negotiations.  
   
• Members of the PSAC BC Regional Council and Area Councils from across the province gathered in Vancouver to do some skills building and planning last weekend. Members came together for the day to talk about how to support our bargaining teams, deepen the connections within our membership and in our workplaces, and build an even stronger union.

• The REVP and Council members' reports, meeting and teleconference call minutes, and meeting agenda presented at the November PSAC BC Regional Council meeting are now available at the website.

• 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 CRA on October 23-25 to continue negotiations for a new collective agreement. While the team raised a number of key issues like job security, scheduling protections, and improving working conditions in call centres, the employer did not move to resolve them.
   
• Treasury Board (PA, TC, SV & EB): The bargaining team representing the common issues for approximately 90,000 public service workers resumed contract negotiations with Treasury Board on October 10-11 and October 16-17. PSAC tabled proposed economic increases of 3.75% per year for the 2018-2020 period. Each team also presented other group-specific wage adjustments and allowances, as well as other table-specific proposals. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of the month: we'll keep you up to date.
   
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency: PSAC members working at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency held a bargaining conference in Ottawa on October 2-4. Members elected their bargaining team and discussed bargaining demands.
   
• Parks Canada: The Parks bargaining team has been elected and the package of demands is being worked on. We'll keep you up to date as things move forward.
   
• CBSA (FB): The Border Services National Bargaining Conference took place in Ottawa, October 10-12. Members in the FB group are united and ready for the upcoming round of negotiations.
   
• North Peace Airport: The bargaining team is happy to announce we have achieved a tentative agreement that addresses a number of worksite issues, as well as stronger language on contracting out and a fair wage increase. A ratification meeting has been scheduled. Contact your Local Executive for an update.
   
• Kamloops Airport: The bargaining team exchanged demands with the employer in October and bargaining is ongoing. Contact your Local Executive for an update.
   
• Purolator: The bargaining team met with the employer on October 19 & 20, and talks broke off as the company failed to make a meaningful offer and instead indicated they will apply for conciliation. We'll keep you up to date as the process moves forward. 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 met to prioritize demands in mid-October and our first meeting with the employer is being scheduled. We'll keep you up to date as bargaining unfolds.
   
• NAV CANADA: Conciliation begins next week. Watch for updates.

Union Education

There are a couple of weekend courses left in 2018. We'll have the spring 2019 schedule for you soon.

• Grievance Handling | Victoria | Nov 24, 25

Fraser Valley

• Talking Union Basics | Abbotsford | Dec 1, 2

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. PSAC members are organizing events around the province to commemorate this tragic event - December 5 in Abbotsford and December 6 in Victoria and Surrey.

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

Are you on Facebook? Show your support for PSAC's Here for Canada campaign by using this profile photo frame!

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