The Vote Results are in as of June 23, 2016

April 30th, 2016

To the Membership (2016)

We have all come through a very difficult year with many changes to the way our jobs are now done and to a very long battle regarding our contract. Our Local has had to endure many additional hardships with the construction zone surrounding our building at one Front Street and the uncertainty of both Front Street and Bay Street moving to new locations in the next few years. These may be rumours, but they have had a negative effect on the membership.

Your Local Executive has put in many hours dealing with grievances, disciplinary issues and accommodation issues in the past year. These situations are often very emotional and time consuming for the union representative who is trying to protect the welfare and rights of the member. The Executives for this Local have worked many personal hours on membership issues which they are not paid for. They have spent time away from family for conferences and training on behalf of the Local. We have been very fortunate to have Executives and Stewards who are dedicated to the welfare of all our members. For this, as the Local President, I would like to thank each one of the Executive and Stewards for all their hard work over the past year.

The membership has now been presented with a contract which took over four years of negotiations with the Government to obtain. Now it is up to the membership to decide whether this is a deal that can be lived with or not. I would ask that each one review the proposed contract very carefully and ask yourself if it is something that you can live with for the next few months as this contract will end October 2016. Think carefully of what the alternatives are, to you, if this contract is not ratified. It will mean more months of negotiations and a possible strike vote, as stated by the National President, with no guarantee as to what would be in a new proposal. Your Local is not recommending ratifying or not ratifying this contract as it is each member’s right to choose. I’m asking that you put rumours aside and if you have a question or need clarification on a point, ask one of the Executive. If we don’t have an immediate answer, we will contact the National Office for one. I quote from one of our past National Presidents who always said “vote with your head and not with your heart”. Sound advice.

This Local is very fortunate to have members who dedicate themselves and their personal time to the betterment of all the Staff. Because of their efforts, we have been able to provide many lunch and learns on several different topics, a Wellness Fair, workshops on mental health issues and the Local’s favourite, our very own therapy dog, Honey-Bee. Thank you to all that have been supportive and giving of their time to providing these events to the staff.

Your Annual General Meeting will take place on May 25th at the Courtyard Marriott. This will be your opportunity to ask the National President, Bob Campbell, and the PSAC Representatives questions on the proposed contract and what will next steps be if it is not ratified.

Looking forward to a better year….

President – Linda Collins and the Local Executive

Fixing Phoenix: 10 ways PSAC is working for you

We want you to know that our union is doing everything in its power to ensure the new pay system is fixed so you get paid on time.

As well, the government must let public service employees know immediately about what personal information has been shared and how they can take steps to protect their identities. We are writing to the Privacy Commissioner, as well as the Prime Minister and Minister Foote, to express our alarm.

Many of our demands have already been met. Here are examples of what we have done and continue to do on your behalf.

1. Pushing for compensation

Phoenix pay problems have resulted in penalties, interest charges and exceptional fees for many of our members. We are currently pushing the government to provide fair compensation for public service workers and to take into account the serious circumstances our members find themselves in as a result of not receiving a pay cheque in months.

The government did not offer compensation for workers until PSAC made this demand.

2. Taking the government to court

On June 28, we filed a court application in collaboration with other unions to force the federal government to meet its legal duty to provide timely and accurate pay for public service employees. We have requested a court hearing without delay.

3. Filing an unfair labour practice complaint

On June 28, we filed an unfair labour practice complaint and have asked for an expedited hearing.

4. Our urgent letter to Minister Foote

On June 14, we sent an urgent letter to Minister Foote demanding her department take action. Some of our demands have already been met.

• Rehire experienced workers into compensation and benefit jobs until the federal pay system is restored. The Minister has agreed to this.
• Appoint an independent auditor to examine the causes of this crisis and recommend long-term solutions. The Minister has agreed to this.
• Immediately ensure all departments have sufficient funds and human resources so that priority payments can be made to workers.
• Commit to reparations for any worker suffering financial penalties as a result of missed pay cheques.
• Make certain that employees’ security clearance and reliability status is in no way affected by poor credit ratings caused by the government’s failure to pay employees correctly or on time.

5. Calling for emergency payments

We have worked closely with department officials to ensure that employees have access to emergency payments. Our experience so far is that some departments are more equipped than others. We are pressing the government to ensure all departments are prepared.

6. Our online letter writing campaign

On June 16, we launched our online letter writing campaign to Minister Judy Foote letting her know how the Phoenix pay system is adversely affecting you. So far, the Minister has received more than 5,000 letters.

7. Call Minister Scott Brison

Minister Scott Brison came out in the media asking for public service workers to call him directly to share their stories. We published his number on our social media feed and received more than 70k hits. We learned he was inundated with calls.

8. Red flags raised before launch of pay system

PSAC repeatedly warned the Liberal government before the launch of the new pay system that there were serious problems and that Phoenix should not proceed. Unfortunately, our concerns went unheeded.

9. Media coverage

PSAC spokespeople have been front and center in the media exposing issues with the Phoenix pay system and the pressures our members in Miramichi are facing.

10. Filed grievances on behalf of Miramichi workers

The implementation of the new Phoenix system has put excessive stress on the employees who process pay under the new system. We have filed a policy grievance on behalf of our members because of the technical changes involved with their work.

Thank you

We thank you for your involvement in ensuring that the Phoenix pay system is fixed immediately.

We will continue to fight for your rights and push for action to #fixphoenix so you receive the pay you are owed.

French Source

Arranger Phénix : 10 initiatives de l’AFPC pour vous aider

Notre syndicat ne ménage aucun effort pour régler les problèmes associés à Phénix et voir à ce qu’on vous paye à temps.

Le gouvernement doit immédiatement préciser à ses employés le type d’information qui a été divulguée et ce qu’ils doivent faire pour protéger leur vie privée. L’AFPC communique avec le commissaire à l’information et à la protection de la vie privée, ainsi qu’avec le premier ministre et la ministre Foote afin de leur exprimer nos vives préoccupations et leur demander d’agir sans délai.

Bon nombre de nos demandes ont déjà été satisfaites. Voici ce que nous avons accompli et ce que nous continuons de faire en votre nom.

1. Demande de dédommagement

Les problèmes de paye ont eu des conséquences financières sur bien des membres : frais de retard, intérêts, pénalités, etc. Nous faisons actuellement pression sur le gouvernement pour qu’il dédommage les fonctionnaires touchés et reconnaisse la situation difficile dans laquelle se trouvent les membres qui n’ont pas été payés depuis des mois.

Le gouvernement n’a pas offert de les dédommager avant que l’AFPC ne le demande.

2. Poursuite devant les tribunaux

En collaboration avec d’autres syndicats, nous avons demandé le 28 juin une ordonnance du tribunal pour obliger le gouvernement fédéral à respecter son obligation de verser aux fonctionnaires le salaire qui leur est dû. Nous avons demandé une audience dans les meilleurs délais.

3. Plainte pour pratique de travail déloyale

Le 28 juin, nous avons déposé une plainte pour pratique de travail déloyale et avons demandé une audience dans les plus brefs délais.

4. Lettre à la ministre Foote

Le 14 juin, nous avons écrit d’urgence à la ministre Foote pour l’exhorter à prendre les mesures qui s’imposent afin d’arranger immédiatement Phénix. Certaines de nos demandes ont été satisfaites. En voici un aperçu :

• Réembaucher des fonctionnaires chevronnés à des postes de conseillers en rémunération et avantages sociaux jusqu’à ce que le système de paye fédéral fonctionne normalement, ce que la ministre a accepté de faire.
• Nommer un vérificateur impartial chargé d’examiner les causes de la crise et de recommander des solutions à long terme, ce que la ministre a aussi accepté de faire.
• S’assurer que les ministères disposent des ressources humaines et financières nécessaires pour effectuer les paiements prioritaires que demandent les fonctionnaires.
• S’engager à dédommager toutes les personnes qui ont subi des pénalités financières.
• S’assurer que la cote de sécurité et de fiabilité des fonctionnaires ne soit pas compromise par une mauvaise cote de crédit causée par les erreurs de paye.

5. Demande de paiements d’urgence

Nous avons collaboré étroitement avec les responsables ministériels pour que les fonctionnaires puissent toucher des paiements d’urgence. Il semble que certains ministères soient plus aptes que d’autres à le faire. Nous exhortons le gouvernement à préparer tous les ministères en conséquence.

6. Campagne de lettres

Le 16 juin, nous avons incité nos membres et l’ensemble des fonctionnaires fédéraux à écrire à la ministre Judy Foote pour lui parler des conséquences fâcheuses du nouveau système de paye. Jusqu’ici, la ministre a reçu plus de 5 000 lettres.

7. Appels à Scott Brison

Le ministre Brison a invité publiquement les fonctionnaires à l’appeler pour lui raconter les problèmes qu’ils ont vécus. Nous avons affiché son numéro de téléphone dans les médias sociaux et cette annonce a été vue plus de 70 000 fois. Apparemment, son téléphone n’a pas dérougi.

8. Avertissements avant le lancement de Phénix

Avant même que le système ne soit lancé, l’AFPC a maintes fois averti les libéraux qu’il y aurait de graves problèmes et qu’il serait préférable de mettre un frein au projet. Malheureusement, le gouvernement a ignoré nos avertissements.

9. Couverture médiatique

Les porte-parole de l’AFPC ont parlé de long en large aux médias des problèmes avec Phénix et des pressions exercées sur le personnel de Miramichi.

10. Grief au nom du personnel de Miramichi

Les employés qui administrent la paye subissent un stress énorme depuis la mise en œuvre de Phénix. Nous avons déposé un grief de principe en raison des changements technologiques associés à leur travail.

Merci

Merci encore d’avoir fait votre part pour arranger le système Phénix rapidement. Nous continuerons de nous battre pour faire respecter vos droits et veiller à ce que vous receviez le salaire qui vous est dû.

CRA bargaining: parties agree to go back to the table

The PSAC/UTE bargaining team and the CRA have agreed to return to the bargaining table August 8-11 to resume negotiations.‎

Over the coming days and weeks, UTE and PSAC leadership will be discussing potential activities in support of achieving a fair contract the week of August 8th. ‎

Union leadership will continue to prepare for potential action to be taken should an agreement not be reached by August 11th.

For more information, speak with your UTE local president or PSAC Regional Office.

Négociation à l’ARC : les parties acceptent de retourner à la table

L’équipe de négociation de l’AFPC-SEI et l’employeur ont convenu de reprendre les pourparlers du 8 au 11 août.

Au cours des prochains jours et des prochaines semaines, les dirigeantes et les dirigeants du SEI et de l’AFPC‎ discuteront d’activités qu’il serait possible d’organiser durant la semaine du 8 août afin d’appuyer la négociation d’une convention collective équitable.

Ils continueront également à préparer la riposte advenant que l’impasse persiste le 11 août.

Pour toute question, communiquez avec l’exécutif de votre section locale ou le bureau régional de l’AFPC.

AGM Documents are Now Available

Documents for the Annual General Meeting are now available here, and permanently available under the Latest section.