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Tentative Agreement Reached with Canadian Museum of History

Just before 2:00 am on Thursday morning, after 12 months of negotiations, our Bargaining Team reached a Tentative Agreement with the Canadian Museum of History. Our Bargaining Team unanimously recommends ratification of our new agreement. The agreement is a four-year collective agreement with an expiration date of March 31, 2020.

Wages

  • Market adjustments taking effect on April 1, 2016, to be applied to maximum of salary scale of $1,500.00 for E3, E4, E5 and E6, $1000.00 for E7 and E8 and $500.00 for E1, E2 (amounts pro-rated for 40-hour employees)
  • Increase in annual service pay to 2.5%.
  • Annual economic increases amounting to 5% over 4 years (1.25% per year).

Market adjustments and service pay increases implemented before annual increase.

  • All increases retroactive to April 1, 2016.
  • One-time, lump-sum signing bonus of $650.00 for all full-time employees on date of ratification, pro-rated for part time employees.
  • A joint committee to examine introduction of new wage grids for next round of negotiations.

Permanent Positions

  • Our agreement provides for the creation of 10 new permanent positions in Client Services, to be offered by seniority consistent with collective agreement.
  • Additionally, our agreement provides for the conversion of 6 part-time Client Services positions to permanent full-time
  • Temporary employees will now have the opportunity to achieve permanency after working equivalent of 2 years with museum. Employer has agreed to no artificial break in service for employees seeking to achieve permanency.

Leave

  • One-time week of vacation for all employees with 2 years of service.
  • Employees access 4 weeks’ annual vacation at 5 years of service instead of 6 years of service.
  • Employer to reimburse costs for medical certificates.
  • All time spent in public service and with other crown corporations to count towards vacation accrual.

Job Security

  • Significant new protections against layoff, including employer must make every effort to avoid layoff, as well as seniority options for voluntary departures.
  • Longer recall list, enhanced rights for employees receiving notice.

Scheduling

  • Client Services staff to now have option of working a 40-hour week, as well as many new protections with respect to how hours are scheduled.
  • New protections against permanent reduction in regularly scheduled hours for full-time employees.

Staffing

  • All vacant jobs of more than 6 months in duration that are being filled must be publicized so that union members might apply.

Classification

  • The union must now be notified in the event that a job is being modified, re-evaluated or reclassified.

For more information about our new contract and ratification, contact a member of our Bargaining Team – Patrice Remillard, Cathy Mitchell, Eric Pallotta. A full explanation of the new agreement, and a copy of the new language, will be provided at the ratification meeting. We’ll be sure to provide an update once we have a date and location confirmed for the vote.

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Ratification votes for members in the TC, PA, SV and EB bargaining units

PA Group: Ratification kit

EB Group: Ratification kit

TC Group: Ratification kit

SV Group: Ratification kit

PSAC’s tentative agreements with Treasury Board covering the TC, SV, PA and EB  bargaining units will only take effect if they are ratified in a vote by the members. Every member covered by these agreements has a right to vote in the ratification process.

You must be a PSAC member in good standing to vote. Membership application forms will be available at the ratification meetings.

Ratification meetings

Ratification meetings that include information sessions will take place across the country from February 20 to April 13. Information about the ratification meetings is being posted on PSAC’s regional websites which will be updated frequently as meetings are scheduled. Please check them regularly.

If you are not sure where to vote, please contact your local representative. Or, if you cannot reach a local union representative, contact the PSAC regional office closest to you.

Where to vote if you’re not close to a ratification meeting

If you work more than 60 kilometers from the closest ratification meeting location, you are entitled to a mail-in ballot. Contact the PSAC regional office closest to you for more information.

If you live and work overseas outside of Canada, contact your local for information on how to vote. If you do not know which local you belong to, contact your PSAC Regional Office.

⇒FAQ about the ratification process

Source: http://psacunion.ca/ratification-votes-members-tc-pa-sv-and-eb

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UPDATED – SV bargaining team reaches tentative agreement with Treasury Board

After four days of mediation, PSAC and Treasury Board have reached a tentative agreement for the Operational Services (SV) Group, which covers almost 10,000 federal public service workers. The deal includes the significant breakthroughs on “common issues,” such as sick leave and workforce adjustment, that were negotiated by the common issues committee last December.

“It is through the hard work and commitment of the members of our SV bargaining team, along with the steadfast support and solidarity from the bargaining unit members, that we were able to reach this agreement,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson.

“Some progress was made towards achieving a key demand of equal pay with similar workers in the private sector and public sectors,” said Benson. “However, our bargaining team members remain disappointed that the government has not agreed to fully implement the results of a joint pay study commissioned in 2014.

“We are recommending acceptance of this agreement because we believe it is the best we can achieve at this time. Ultimately it will be up to the members to decide.”

Monetary gains

SV members will receive economic wage increases of 1.25 per cent per year for four years starting in 2014. The union also achieved market and wage adjustments of between 0.5 per cent and 15 per cent, as well as increases to some allowances.

Common issues need to be implemented at all tables

The issues agreed to in December between the employer and the common issues committee, composed of members from all five Treasury Board tables, need to be accepted by each specific table. The SV bargaining team has formally accepted the work of the common issues committee, which covers sick leave and the workforce adjustment appendix.

Sick leave

  • The sick leave articles of our collective agreements will remain unchanged.
  • The parties have negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a Task Force to develop recommendations on measures to improve employee wellness and reintegration of employees.
  • Any future enhancements to the regime would need to be negotiated and agreed to by both parties.
  • PSAC’s four principles are included in the MOA: sick leave provisions will be contained in the collective agreement, provide for wage replacement, protect and grandfather sick leave banks, and will not be administered by a third-party provider. Any enhanced sick leave regime shall contain, at minimum, these four principles.

Workforce adjustment appendix

  • What we achieved represents the most significant improvements in workforce adjustment since it was first signed as an appendix into PSAC collective agreements in 1998.
  • Changes will reduce involuntary layoffs by allowing volunteers to come forward to leave the public service during times of workforce adjustment.
  • Employees will now have up to fifteen months to find an alternation match.
  • More union involvement, ensuring employees have the right to union representation during the process.
  • Limits to contracting out.
  • Improvements to the monetary provisions, including the education allowance and transition support measures.

Helping workers meet family demands

A committee will be established to look at childcare needs. Better family leave, including provisions that are more respectful and inclusive of Indigenous cultures, have also been negotiated.

Other notable gains

The Memorandum of Understanding that established the Task Force on Mental Health in the Workplace is also contained in this agreement. The mandate of the task force includes identifying ways to reduce and eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues, improving communication on mental health challenges in the workplace, and implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The parties came to an agreement on the MOU earlier in the bargaining process, in 2015, and the task force has been hard at work ever since.

Further information about the settlement will be provided in the near future.

Attachments:

PDF icon sv_bargaining_summary_table_final_feb_9_2017.pdf

Source: psacunion.ca

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TC bargaining team reaches tentative agreement with Treasury Board

PSAC and Treasury Board have reached a tentative agreement for the Technical Services (TC) Group, which covers more than 11,000 federal public service workers. The deal includes significant breakthroughs on “common issues,” such as sick leave and workforce adjustment, the details of which were hammered out by the common issues committee last December. The TC bargaining team was also able to make meaningful improvements to monetary compensation, enhancing existing allowances and creating new allowances for specific groups of members.

“I thank the bargaining team for all their hard work and dedication to the members of the TC group. It has been a long two years. They resisted concessions, and in the end, they were able to achieve something for everyone,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson.

Common issues need to be implemented at all tables

The issues agreed to in December between the employer and the common issues committee, composed of members from all five Treasury Board tables, need to be accepted by each specific table. The TC bargaining team has formally accepted the work of the common issues committee, which covers sick leave and the workforce adjustment appendix.

Sick leave

The sick leave articles of our collective agreements will remain unchanged.
The parties have negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a Task Force to develop recommendations on measures to improve employee wellness and reintegration of employees.
Any future enhancements to the regime would need to be negotiated and agreed to by both parties.
PSAC’s four principles are included in the MOA: sick leave provisions will be contained in the collective agreement, provide for wage replacement, protect and grandfather sick leave banks, and will not be administered by a third-party provider. Any enhanced sick leave regime shall contain, at minimum, these four principles.
Workforce adjustment appendix

What we achieved represents the most significant improvements in workforce adjustment since it was first signed as an appendix into PSAC collective agreements in 1998.
Changes will reduce involuntary layoffs by allowing volunteers to come forward to leave the public service during times of workforce adjustment.
Employees will now have up to fifteen months to find an alternation match.
More union involvement, ensuring employees have the right to union representation during the process.
Limits to contracting out.
Improvements to the monetary provisions, including the education allowance and transition support measures.
Monetary gains

TC members will receive a 1.25 percent economic increase per year, over four years, as well as a 0.5 percent market adjustment in the third year. A signing bonus of $650 will be paid to those members who do not receive a group specific salary adjustment. Those group specific adjustments include:

Roll-in the remaining value of the terminable allowance to Appendix A-1 and an additional increment of four percent to the maximum rates of pay at all levels for Marine, Rail and Air Technical Inspectors, effective June 22, 2016.
Increases to the monies paid in Appendix W to EG and GT members working in shore-based positions at Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), effective June 22, 2016.
New allowance of $3,000 per year for Fishery Officers (GT-02 to GT-05), effective June 22, 2016.
New allowance of $3,000 per year for Enforcement and Wildlife Officers (GT-02 to GT-05) at ECCC, effective June 22, 2016.
New allowance of $3,000 year for Technical Inspectors (TI-03 to TI-07) employed at Measurement Canada, effective June 22, 2016.
New allowance of $3,000 for Labour Affairs Officers (LAO) at the TI-05 level, effective June 22, 2016.
New allowance of four percent for Search and Rescue Coordinators (GT-05) working at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC).
Additional increment of four percent to the maximum rate of pay of PI levels, effective June 22, 2016. Add the PI-CGC-07 rates of pay.
New allowance of $2,500 for EG-06 at Fleet Maintenance Facilities (FMF).
Additionally, the EG allowance contained in Appendix V will be rolled into the base rate of pay, effective June 22, 2016 and delete Appendix V. However, EG members who receive this roll-in and no other special measures above will be eligible for the $650 signing bonus.

Helping workers meet family demands

A committee will be established to look at childcare needs. Better family leave, including provisions for extended family, have also been negotiated. Significantly, the definition of family has been improved to include more family members. This means members can utilize relevant provisions of the collective agreement for more members of their family.

Other notable gains

New language has been included in the collective agreement to better protect members from being switched from day workers to shift workers, and vice-versa.
Travelling Time: the cap for travel in 34.04 has been increased to 15 hours, from 12.
The amounts paid under Appendix K for Diving Duty and Transfer at Sea have been improved.
Volunteer Leave has been included into Personal Leave, increasing the amount of time to two days, which can be split into smaller periods for ease of use.
The union and employer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding examining the comparability of EG work and compensation in the federal public service and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
We have a commitment to undertake occupational group structure review for the TC group and have new job evaluation standards completed by 2019.
Minor improvements to language on discipline and access to employee files.
The Memorandum of Understanding that established the Task Force on Mental Health in the workplace is also contained in this agreement. The mandate of the task force includes identifying ways to reduce and eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues, improving communication on mental health challenges in the workplace, and implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The parties came to an agreement on the MOU earlier in the bargaining process, in 2015, and the task force has been hard at work ever since.

The TC Bargaining Team is unanimously recommending acceptance of this agreement. Further information will be made available to TC members in the near future.

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EB bargaining team reaches tentative agreement with Treasury Board

PSAC and Treasury Board have reached a tentative agreement for the Education and Library Science (EB) Group, which covers more than 900 federal public service workers. The deal includes significant breakthroughs on “common issues,” such as sick leave and workforce adjustment, the details of which were hammered out by the common issues committee last December. The EB team was also able to achieve market adjustments for every classification in the bargaining unit.

“This is yet another victory in what has been a very challenging set of negotiations with Treasury Board,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “It is through the hard work and commitment of the members of our EB bargaining team, along with the steadfast support and solidarity from the bargaining unit members, that we were able to reach this agreement.”

Common issues need to be implemented at all tables

The issues agreed to in December between the employer and the common issues committee, composed of members from all five Treasury Board tables, need to be accepted by each specific table. EB is the second table to formally accept the work of the common issues committee, which covers sick leave and the workforce adjustment appendix.

Sick leave

  • The sick leave articles of our collective agreements will remain unchanged.
  • The parties have negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a Task Force to develop recommendations on measures to improve employee wellness and reintegration of employees.
  • Any future enhancements to the regime would need to be negotiated and agreed to by both parties.
  • PSAC’s four principles are included in the MOA: sick leave provisions will be contained in the collective agreement, provide for wage replacement, protect and grandfather sick leave banks, and will not be administered by a third-party provider. Any enhanced sick leave regime shall contain, at minimum, these four principles.

Workforce adjustment appendix

  • What we achieved represents the most significant improvements in workforce adjustment since it was first signed as an appendix into PSAC collective agreements in 1998.
  • Changes will reduce involuntary layoffs by allowing volunteers to come forward to leave the public service during times of workforce adjustment.
  • Employees will now have up to fifteen months to find an alternation match.
  • More union involvement, ensuring employees have the right to union representation during the process.
  • Limits to contracting out.
  • Improvements to the monetary provisions, including the education allowance and transition support measures.

Monetary gains

The agreement with the EB table contains significant improvements to monetary compensation for members. This includes a wage increase and a wage adjustment for all groups. The total compensation for all EB members amounts to a minimum increase of five-and-a-half per cent over the four years of the collective agreement, plus a $650 signing bonus. The wage increase is 1.25 per cent for each year, plus 0.5 to four-per-cent market adjustments for 2016.

An appendix that provides a framework for working towards a national rate of pay for the EB-EST 12 month teachers has been added to the collective agreement. An allowance for EB members who work in Correctional Services Canada and more support for First Nations teachers have also been achieved.

Helping workers meet family demands

A committee will be established to look at childcare needs. Better family leave, including provisions that are more respectful and inclusive of Indigenous cultures, have also been negotiated.

Other notable gains

This agreement has language recognizing gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination.

The Memorandum of Understanding that established the Task Force on Mental Health in the workplace is also contained in this agreement. The mandate of the task force includes identifying ways to reduce and eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues, improving communication on mental health challenges in the workplace, and implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The parties came to an agreement on the MOU earlier in the bargaining process, in 2015, and the task force has been hard at work ever since.

Source: www.psacunion.ca

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FAQ about our PA group tentative agreement

When will we vote on the deal?

PSAC is currently preparing the ratification kits for the PA membership. These kits will explain the changes that were negotiated and why our PA Bargaining Team is recommending that members accept this tentative agreement. Information meetings will be held across the country so that PA members can hear from a Bargaining Team member and ask questions prior to casting their ballot on the tentative agreement. Given the size and diversity of the PA membership, the ratification vote process takes approximately six to eight weeks to conclude. Information on ratification meetings will be shared via the PSAC national and regional websites when it becomes available.

Ratification votes are being planned for the near future. Check the PSAC National Union’s website for planned dates and sign up for email updates to stay informed.

When will the deal come into effect?

If a majority of members vote “yes” in the ratification vote, PSAC will meet with the employer to sign your new collective agreement. With the exception of wages, which are retroactive, the new negotiated provisions come into effect on date of signing, unless otherwise specified.

Who will get back pay (retroactive pay) for the negotiated economic increases?

The new collective agreement is retroactive to June 20, 2014, expiring June 20, 2018. This means that you are entitled to back pay for the period of time you were employed and a PA member from June 20, 2014.

When can I expect the employer to pay the retroactive pay?

The employer has 150 days from the date of signing to implement the provisions of the new collective agreement, including adjusting rates of pay and issuing retroactive pay.

Who will get the signing bonus?

As part of your economic package for this tentative agreement, a $650 signing bonus will be given to any employee who is a member of the PA bargaining unit on the date of signing of the new agreement. The employer has 150 days after the date of signing to pay the bonus.

If I retired recently or left the PA bargaining unit, will I get the signing bonus?

Unfortunately, no. The signing bonus is only given to members of the unit who are employed in the PA bargaining unit on the date of signing.

If I am eligible for either the Compensation Advisor Allowance or the Correctional Service Specific Duty Allowance, will the increase be retroactive?

Increases to allowances are not retroactive. The employer has 150 days after the date of signing to implement the changes and issue payment of the allowances.

Source: www.psacunion.ca

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UPDATED – Tentative agreement reached for PA table

A tentative agreement between PSAC and Treasury Board has been reached for the PA table, covering over 68,000 federal public service workers. The deal includes significant breakthroughs on “common issues,” such as sick leave and workforce adjustment, the details of which were hammered out by the common issues committee earlier this week.

“I am proud of our negotiating teams for standing strong during these two long, difficult years at the table. A deal for our largest group, as well as agreements on key common issues, is a significant victory,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President. “I am equally proud of our members for their strength and solidarity. It is because of them that our teams were able to prevent the concessions on sick leave that the employer had been pushing for.”

Common issues need to be implemented at all tables

The issues agreed to between the employer and the common issues committee, composed of members from all five Treasury Board tables, will need to be accepted by each specific table. PA is the first table to formally accept the work of the common issues committee, which covers sick leave and the workforce adjustment appendix.

Sick leave

  • The sick leave articles of our collective agreements will remain unchanged.
  • The parties have negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a Task Force to develop recommendations on measures to improve employee wellness and reintegration of employees.
  • Any future enhancements to the regime would need to be negotiated and agreed to by both parties.
  • PSAC’s four principles are included in the MOA: sick leave provisions will be contained in the collective agreement, provide for wage replacement, protect and grandfather sick leave banks, and will not be administered by a third-party provider. Any enhanced sick leave regime shall contain, at minimum, these four principles.

Workforce adjustment appendix

  • What we achieved represents the most significant improvements in workforce adjustment since it was first signed as an appendix into PSAC collective agreements in 1998.
  • Changes will reduce involuntary layoffs by allowing volunteers to come forward to leave the public service during times of workforce adjustment.
  • Employees will now have up to fifteen months to find an alternation match.
  • More union involvement, ensuring employees have the right to union representation during the process.
  • Limits to contracting out.
  • Improvements to the monetary provisions, including the education allowance and transition support measures.

Monetary gains

The agreement with the PA table contains significant improvements to monetary compensation for members. This includes a wage increase and allowances for certain occupations, such as compensation advisors and employees of Correctional Service of Canada. The total compensation for all PA members amounts to a minimum increase of five and a half percent over the four years of the collective agreement, plus a $650 signing bonus.

The wage increase is 1.25 per cent for each year, plus a point five percent (0.5%) market adjustment for 2016.

Helping workers meet family demands

It has been agreed that a committee will be established to look at childcare needs. Better family leave, including provisions for extended family, have also been negotiated.

Other notable gains

The PA team has achieved improvements to working conditions for members working in call centres.

This agreement has language recognizing gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination.

The Memorandum of Understanding that established the task force on Mental Health in the workplace is also contained in this agreement. The mandate of the task force includes identifying ways to reduce and eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues, improving communication on mental health challenges in the workplace, and implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.  The MOU was agreed to earlier in the bargaining process, in 2015, and the task force has already been hard at work ever since.

Attachments:

PDF icon 20161217_barg_pa_ca_summary_table_bi.pdf

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Update on Treasury Board bargaining: Dates with mediator

 tbbargupdate

The Common Issues committee and PA bargaining team will resume negotiations with Treasury Board, with the assistance of a mediator, the week of December 12.

PSAC and the Employer returned to extended negotiations from November 1-9, after the Liberal government promised to bring a new mandate to the table.

At the end of that bargaining session, PSAC proposed continuing discussions with the assistance of a mediator. The government has since agreed to this.

More information will be provided once it becomes available.

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Treasury Board bargaining: PSAC requests mediation

tbmediation

Contract negotiations have been ongoing for 10 days. While some progress has been achieved, there are still important issues of fairness and improving public services for Canadians that are yet to be resolved.

PSAC has requested that a mediator be appointed and that talks resume within two weeks.

PSAC and the Employer returned to extended negotiations from November 1-9, after the Liberal government promised to bring a new mandate to the table.

“We’ve gone as far as we can. This government promised to respect public service workers and restore the integrity of the public services Canadians rely on. They have not yet delivered on that promise,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President.

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Treasury Board bargaining extended

bargainingudate

Bargaining with Treasury Board continues for the PA, SV, EB, FB and TC groups.

Our bargaining teams have been negotiating since last week, and the schedule for bargaining has been extended.

PSAC remains focused on negotiating a contract which reflects fairness for public service workers and respect for the vital work that they do in providing services to all Canadians.