Bargaining

1.  What is an Essential Services Agreement (ESA)? An ESA is a written agreement between the Union and the employer that certain work duties are essential to the safety and security of the public and must continue during a strike.  ESA's are required by the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA)

Although almost four months have passed since the Public Interest Commission released its recommendations to settle a new contract for the TC Group, Treasury Board says it is still not ready to return to the bargaining table. We want a fair contract now!

Your bargaining team met with the employer this week for three days. We worked on your proposals as best we could but found that the employer was only focused on discussing their two main proposals which we would categorize as major “rollbacks”. Specifically the apprenticeship program and the creation of a flexible workforce which would become disposable at the whim of the employer. It became evident on the third day of bargaining that we were negotiating with ourselves.

The National Board of Directors of the PSAC has unanimously endorsed a plan to protect our members against new threats to our Collective Agreement rights.

Our union, along with concerned Canadians in communities across the country, has been working hard to save services and protect jobs.  We've also been using our collective agreement provisions to help members cope with the impact of budget cuts. We've negotiated those provisions, just like we've won fair wages, health and safety protections, sick leave, and all of the benefits we count on.  The improvements we've made for ourselves have helped other workers do the same, contributing to a higher standard of living for everyone.

To: PSAC Locals and Activists in BC Greetings,As you may be aware, the Conservative’s have announced they will be releasing this year’s budget on Thursday March 21, 2013 at 4PM EST. We expect the budget to contain further cuts, affecting our members and further devastating the public sector.  The lack of transparency and hidden legislative changes in the 2012 budget shows the disregard this government has towards Canadians and public services.

Sick leave is a negotiated benefitSick leave provisions in collective agreements are a negotiated benefit for public sector workers who get sick; they are not a benefit for those who are healthy. Sick leave ensures workers are well enough to provide quality public services.Any changes to the current sick leave provisions are a matter for negotiations between the PSAC and the federal government

PSAC is ready to return to the bargaining table using the recommendations of the Public Interest Commission as the basis for negotiating a tentative agreement, your Union told Treasury Board last month.The recommendations of the PIC were released by the Public Service Labour Relations Board in mid-January. After studying the report, the TC Bargaining Team confirmed that it is prepared to use the recommendations as a road map to a negotiated settlement.

Your bargaining team met for the second time with the employer on March 12th, 13th and 14th.  The environment was quite positive and as a result we have signed off on a number of non-monetary bargaining proposals.  In addition, we have had thorough discussions on the employer’s proposal to amend the Apprenticeship article and the dual ticket program. The employer has also tabled language on “seasonal employees”.

PSAC/UTE Bargaining Team spends week in negotiations with CRA.