PSAC bargaining team pushing for improvements to working conditions.
On Wednesday, August 5th our Bargaining Team for the AS and LT groups met with the Library of Parliament to commence negotiations for a new collective agreement. When presenting our package of proposals we told the Library that we are seeking new rights and protections for PSAC members at the Library in this round of bargaining, and that we are seeking improvements in a number of areas based on what our union has successfully negotiated with other federal employers.
Some of the improvements that we’ve proposed include increased leave provisions, enhanced job security and expanded union rights in the workplace. We also indicated to the employer that we will want to have discussion concerning hours of work and vacation scheduling when the parties next meet.
The Library proposed some very serious concessions in bargaining on Wednesday. These include the elimination of the job security provisions in our collective agreement as well as the elimination of all protections in the context of the introduction of technological change. The Library is also proposing to water down its obligations with respect to following the Public Service Health and Dental plans and the payment of associated premiums.
While we will meet our obligation to bargain in good faith with the employer, our objective in this round of bargaining is to achieve improvements for PSAC members at the Library of Parliament, not take steps backwards. We will also need to seek clarification on a number of the Library’s proposals when the parties next meet.
Also our Team has submitted a request for payroll and other financial information so that we may begin preparation on economic proposals this fall.
PSAC members at the Library should be aware that federal law prohibits unilateral changes to any terms and condition of employment subject to negotiation while the parties are in the process of bargaining a new contract.
If you have any questions, or are interested in seeing the proposals that we’ve tabled in bargaining, and those of management, contact a member of our Bargaining Team – Jean-Michel Lavergne, Caroline Dionne, Nadine Langevin or alternate Team Member Marcel Leonard.
The parties are next scheduled to meet in October. We’ll be sure to update as things progress.