On Monday November 16th our Bargaining Team met with Senate Administration to continue negotiations for a new collective agreement.
In negotiations we again re-iterated that we seeking the same protections and rights that already exist for other workers on Parliament Hill, and that the PSAC has successfully negotiated with other federal employers.
This includes fair access to training and career advancement opportunities, family-related responsibility leave, access of union representatives to the workplace, provision of clothing and uniforms.
In our session last week, the Senate indicated that “there have been no problems” with respect to clothing provision at the Senate, and instead proposed to remove certain items from the collective agreement.
On Monday, we saw no movement on any of the issues outstanding between the parties, with the exception of family-related responsibility leave, where the Senate continues to insist that we agree to less than what the PSAC has negotiated for tens of thousands of other federal workers. We will not agree to less.
We are scheduled to meet again in December. Our hope is that the Senate will return to finally bargain with our team. If you have any questions or concerns, contact a member of our Bargaining Team. We’ll be sure to update as things progress.
Source: PSAC