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Local President's Report
- November 2003
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We’re now back in full swing from our collective
summer and early fall break. With summer over and the
kids well entrenched in school studies and fall
activities, we are preparing for another round of
bargaining. In addition, as federal Public Service
employees, we are waiting with anticipation for the
now obvious anointing of our new Prime Minister, Paul
Martin. With the Liberal convention set for later this
month and Mr. Martin with 97% of the convention
delegates committed to him, the decision is already
made. The only thing we don’t know for sure is what
exactly is in store for us and our country.
BUDGET CLAWBACKS
At CCG/DFO, our members continue to express
concern over the financial situation at DFO. As you
are aware, CCG/DFO has undergone tremendous change in
the past few years primarily as a result of budget
shortfalls and it would appear that will continue to
be the case in the foreseeable future. As you are
aware, there is considerable discussion underway at
CCG/DFO concerning the future role of Coast Guard as
an agency responsible for security. What will come out
of the parliamentary discussions, only time will tell?
At Transport Canada, those of us working there will
finally be in the position of dealing with many of the
issues of concern for our membership at CCG/DFO.
Hopefully, the cuts at TC will ease considerably in
the new fiscal year, however, we’ll have to wait and
see. The primary concern brought forward by members
arising out of the "clawback" has been the
elimination of non-mandatory training. The results of
the cuts in training are two-fold. First, there exists
the situation where members have been waiting their
turn for specific training and unfortunately, due to
the clawback, they miss their opportunity this year
and only time will tell whether or not that
opportunity is provided next year. The second part of
that is for some, the training they are waiting for is
directly related to their individual career plan, so
that too has to go on hold for another year. Again, we’ll
have to wait and see whether or not the cuts in
training will continue.
NEGOTIATIONS
By the time you read this, Tables 1, 2, 3 and 5
will have been to the bargaining table at least twice.
You should be aware all levels of the union -
National, Regional and Local have met several times to
discuss and establish the strategies to be employed in
support of our demands.
As a member of the national bargaining team at Table
3, I have had the opportunity to participate in a
number of those forums and can tell you firsthand of
the efforts being made to keep you in the
communication loop. From the redesign of the PSAC
website to the enhanced, Table specific email service,
your union is committed to keeping you informed
throughout the bargaining process. Presuming every
member takes advantage of the communication tools
being provided, there should be excellent two way
discussions throughout this round of bargaining. And
that is the key, good communication fosters a
collective understanding as to what is required to get
the job done, however, to be successful, you need to
do your part by checking in regularly to the website,
signing up for the subscription service and making use
of the various forums being established for your
input. You can do that through the bargaining update
link at our Local website at http://www.ucte20219.com
or directly to the PSAC at http://www.psac.com
. Make the effort and logon.
In providing you with information from the bargaining
table, you must realize my personal experience is
limited to what occurred at Table 3. Having said that,
with the coordination between bargaining tables, I
will be able to provide you with the highlights as
reported by the other table member negotiators to the
All Tables Meeting.
At Table 3, our attention during the last week at
bargaining was focussed on developing demands related
to allowances. This included developing new language
in some areas while in others, it was simply amending
language that currently exists in some of the
appendices to the Table 3 agreement. The list of items
discussed and for the most part tabled includes the
following:
1. Appendix B:
The bargaining team is advancing the demand for
inclusion of the captive time, or, as referred to in
the collective agreement, Travel Status Leave
provision in this appendix. Additionally, we are the
equitable distribution of standby, and the ability for
the member to determine whether that will be paid in
cash or comp time. We also have a demand under Article
30 for an improved standby for members including those
under Appendix B;
2. Appendix D:
New language which reads as follows:
An employee shall be paid a hazardous exposure
allowance equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the
employee’s basic hourly rate of pay on a prorated
basis for actual time worked on a hovercraft;
3. Appendix J:
We are looking to improve all rates paid for
diving duties, ranging from $75 to $125;
4. Appendix K:
Looking to improve the rate paid for diving duties
to $75 a day, as well as include a more complete
definition of what diving time is. Additionally, we
are attempting to include surface air supply as part
of this allowance;
5. Appendix O:
Similar to the last round of bargaining, we are
trying to improve the SUB plan benefits, including the
waiting period, to 93% and to broaden the language to
include indeterminate seasonal and other
classifications under this appendix. While in the past
only PI members were placed on off-pay status, we have
learned that other groups are now subject to off-pay,
but without access to the SUB plan benefits;
6. Appendix S:
Looking for a number of improvements including the
removal of Article 34 Travelling Time from the list of
exclusions in this appendix. Additionally, we are
attempting to improve the allowances paid for flight
tests and flying duties, partially through removing
the 15 hour flying time requirement, and increasing
the compensation made under section 3 to twelve hours
straight time pay;
7. We are also trying to establish a number of new
allowances as follows:
Clothing Allowance for Plain Clothes Work
We are trying to negotiate a clothing allowance of
$1,200 for DFO GT members working as non-uniformed
enforcement officers, to cover the cost of clothes
purchased for undercover work;
Dangerous Goods Allowance
We have tabled a demand seeking compensation of
$150 per month for members who have responsibility for
packaging, shipping, receiving, labelling or otherwise
handling dangerous goods.
Hazardous Substances Allowance:
Similar to allowances paid at Table 2, we are
looking to have members compensated ($150/month) for
working with hazardous substances. While the list of
duties is extensive, it does include HAZMAT response,
working on CERT teams, and emergency evacuation and
response.
Height Premium:
Similar to the Table 2 allowance, we have tabled a
demand for a daily allowance for work performed at 2.4
meters or more above a permanent safe level. The daily
allowance demand is for two hours pay at the
applicable daily rate, as well as an additional demand
for to address overtime work.
It is the intention of the T3 negotiating team members
to have all our language, including our compensation
package tabled with the employer during our next
go-round scheduled for the week of November 24th.
Again, I strongly urge each of you to stay current by
logging into either http://www.ucte20219.com/
or http://www.psac.com/bargaining/treasuryboard/index-e.cfm
for bargaining updates from your specific
table. You will also find information pertinent at the
Regional PSAC website. Having just recently returned
from the second round, I can tell you from a
communication/strategy perspective, we are more up to
date and coordinated than ever before. One last time,
PSAC is providing a bargaining update subscription
service to keep you "in the know". You can
find that information by following the link and then
clicking on EMAIL NEWS.
In addition to bargaining, we have a number of
other activities underway including preparation for
our annual meeting now scheduled for November 5th.
The Local’s executive is putting the finishing
touches on the agenda for this extremely important
meeting. Please watch the website at http://www.ucte20219.com/index2.htm
for meeting posters and other news. Upcoming later
this fall is the rescheduling of the Anti-Harassment
Course at TC presented through the Joint Learning
Program. I believe final dates are being set as we
speak. As I’m sure space will be at a premium, I
suggest you register early to guarantee your spot. In
addition, we will be meeting over the next two months
with the employer regionally in Union/Management
consultations. Please make sure your issue is on the
agenda by speaking with a member of the Local Union
executive.
Again, with bargaining now underway, I urge you to
stay connected to the information updates and your
Local website for pertinent bargaining information.
Again, you can make that connection by clicking on bargaining
updates at http://www.ucte20219.com/index2.htm
.
Until next month.
Dave Lee
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