Bargaining

PSAC has been in the media a fair amount over the past couple of days with reaction to the government's announcement that it plans to eliminate the existing sick leave provisions for federal public service workers, whether or not an agreement is reached at the bargaining table. Here's a media round-up. CBC's Power & Politics - Interview with Robyn Benson, PSAC National President (skip to 26:55 in the clip)

The federal government announced in the budget that it plans to eliminate the existing sick leave provisions for federal public service workers, whether or not an agreement is reached at the bargaining table. All PSAC members should know that our union will not be intimidated by this threat.  Any move by the government to make unilateral changes to our collective agreement is a violation of our constitutional Charter rights to bargain collectively without government interference.

The federal government said today it will eliminate the existing sick leave provisions for federal public service workers, whether or not an agreement is reached at the bargaining table. “The government is putting a time limit on the collective bargaining process and trying to pre-determine the outcome of bargaining, ” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President. “That’s simply unacceptable. ”

Please see the attached notice from PSAC National President Robyn Benson regarding National Public Service Week activities which takes place June 14 – 20, 2015. At the March 2015 meeting of the National Board of Directors, we once again called for a boycott of NPSW. Tony Clement and the Conservative government are at the Treasury Board, Parks and CFIA bargaining tables intent on dismantling our sick leave and benefits and at CRA the employer refuses to bargain meaningfully.

We don’t know when the next federal election will be called, although the latest possible date for it is October 19, 2015. Here are five easy things you can do to help elect a Member of Parliament who values strong public services and the workers who deliver them. 1. Get the facts

Our bargaining team met with the Agency in mediation over three days this week (March 30 - April 1) at the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board in Ottawa

PSAC members across BC are organizing bargaining solidarity events - standing together for healthy workplaces and protesting proposed government changes to sick leave and cuts to public services. Here are some photos.

The long-awaited arbitration decisions for both the Regional Officer and the Field Interviewer bargaining units were finally released late on Monday, March 30, 2015. PSAC will be analyzing the arbitral awards for both the RO and FI units and will be posting this analysis, along with previously signed-off language, on the PSAC website as soon as possible.

PSAC is very pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Treasury Board on the establishment of a joint task force on mental health. PSAC tabled the proposal in January to ensure a more proactive approach to improving mental health. Following negotiations this week with Treasury Board, the parties agreed on the makeup, responsibilities and timelines for the task force on mental health.