Has it been three years already? Last weekend marked the end of a successful round of regional seminars held across the country. It was the NCR-Treasury Board region that got honour of hosting the last regional seminar before convention. (don’t hyperventilate… but convention is coming FAST!)
With so much happening on Parliament Hill these days, members weren’t scratching their heads searching for discussion topics. But, according to Regional Vice-President Richard Ballance, scary House bills aren’t top of mind for the average member.
“Our members are encountering a lot of issues with performance management agreements – in how they’re implemented,” explained Ballance.
Tony Clement’s recent comments have many members fearing that performance appraisals are going to become a gateway for disciplinary measures.
Ballance said another issue punctuating workplaces centers on sick leave; managers are increasingly demanding a doctor’s note when people fall ill. Typically, a medical note is only requested when an employee’s absence spans three days or longer.
“More and more, managers are asking for notes on any illness,” he explained. “Especially if they see you as a problem employee.”
The collective agreements we hold with Treasury Board allow for managers to request a doctor’s letter; there’s nothing prohibiting them from doing so, even if the absence was only a day or two.
Ballance is also concerned that this new trend is putting further stress on an already underfunded health-care system.
“And many walk-in clinics charge for these letters; our members are paying out of pocket for that.”
Much like the recent NCR-Separate Employers’ regional seminar, a workshop on resolutions got rave reviews. Anyone going to convention can, we’re told, look forward to “several” resolutions that were written during this seminar.
Finally, you’ll be happy to hear that the UNE got props from the PSAC’s own Chris Aylward for having a provision that sends youth delegates to our conventions. During each regional seminar, young members caucus and elect two of their peers as youth delegates to convention.
Karine Oluyole and Georgina Smith were elected last weekend; they join 18 other youth delegates who will represent their peers at our upcoming convention.