The headlines for current month's news items are listed immediately below.
Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.
|
Essential Services Agreement – Information update for AAFC Locals
New additions to our Web site
Work description review for EGs at CFIA Science Branch
gets long overdue green light
Jobs and facilities at the St-Jean Canadian Forces Language School
secure following our union's intervention
Our June ‘Rand’ campaign winner is…
Essential Services Agreement – Information update for AAFC Locals
(Posted July 20, 2007)
Replacement of the former ‘designations’ process with ‘Essential Services Agreements’ is one of the many legislated changes to federal public service labour laws that are impacting the current round of negotiations between Treasury Board and our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance.
The National Office this week provided the following information update to all our Locals representing Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada members:
The amended Public Service Labour Relations Act requires the employer and the bargaining agent to make every reasonable effort to negotiate an Essential Services Agreement (ESA). To that end, the Agriculture Union has been meeting with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to reach an agreement on what positions will be designated as essential in the event of a strike.
The Act defines ‘essential service’” as a “service, facility or activity of the Government of Canada that is or will be, at any time, necessary for the safety or security of the public or a segment of the public”. This new legislation broadens the definition and also gives the employer the exclusive right to determine the level and frequency to which these services are to be provided. However, those employees who are deemed to be essential may only have to perform specified duties of their job description that have been identified as essential.
Once an agreement on essential services has been reached between the parties, it is the employer’s obligation to inform incumbents of essential positions that they are not permitted to participate in a legal strike for the bargaining unit to which they belong. This means that the Public Service Labour Relations Board will no longer be issuing a Form 13, as in the past. We are consulting with the department on how that notice will be worded and delivered to our members.
We are hopeful that, within the next month or two, we will be in a position to provide you with the list of proposed essential positions in your Local and to request your feedback as to whether the identified essential duties are accurate. As you are aware, in the past, we have agreed to allow our members to provide humane care to animals during a strike and also to allow any long-term important research to continue; we will continue to do so. While the legislation allows for an ESA to remain in force from one round of bargaining to the next, we have reached an agreement with the department that due to the fact that these types of positions do not strictly meet the definition in the Act, we will review their status each and every round of bargaining.
New additions to our Web site
(Posted July 19, 2007)
The Agriculture Union Web site continues to evolve to respond to our members’ wishes for extra features and information.
Effective immediately, we’ve added a new section that provides information on home, auto and life insurance policies available to our members. Our status as a Component union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada allows the Agriculture Union to leverage the much larger PSAC membership to offer highly-competitive insurance rates.
You’ll find this information under the newly-added ‘Member Benefits’ sub-menu item under the ‘Services’ tab on our main menu bar at the top of the page. You can view the page right away by clicking HERE.
We’ve also retooled and expanded our site’s links to government departments. These are now available on one page, but divided into two sections: departments and agencies that directly employ Agriculture Union members, and those that have a major impact on our terms and conditions of work. These latter organizations range from such familiar entities as the Treasury Board and the Public Service Labour Relations Board, to such smaller bodies as the Public Service Agency of Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
These links are still in the same location as before: under the ‘Links’ sub-menu item, which is found under the ‘Useful Info’ main menu tab. However, logically enough, we have renamed the existing tab ‘Federal Government’ (it was formerly labeled ‘Employers’). You can take a peek at this newly-rebuilt page by clicking HERE.
Our Web site is an ever-evolving project. So, expect to see more refinements in the months ahead!
Work description review for EGs at CFIA Science Branch gets long overdue green light
(Posted July 16, 2007)
Senior management at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has given the green light to a long overdue review of the work descriptions of our EG members employed in the Agency’s Science Branch.
No one disagrees that these Agriculture Union members have been working with severely outdated work descriptions, many of which predate the Agency’s creation in 1997. These were, and are, totally inadequate given the work now being performed and their place within the CFIA’s organizational structure.
Some four years ago, a model work description was developed for the EG-5 level and it had been the intent of the Agency to develop similar models for all other EGs working in the Science Branch. Unfortunately, that project was put on hold for a number of reasons.
The good news is that senior management has finally given the go-ahead to proceed on a priority basis with a new comprehensive review of all EG positions in the Science Branch.
A review committee of managers has been struck and, at our request, the employer has agreed to include at least one Agriculture Union representative on the committee. To date, no specific timeframe or work plan have been established.
The mandate of the committee is to draft model work descriptions based on the duties of these technicians. The descriptions will then be provided to incumbents, along with notification of the appropriate classification group and level.
The Agency does not foresee a large number of changes in classification. Where an amended work description does result in upward reclassification, appropriate action, such as determining the effective date and compensating the incumbent at the new group and/or level, will follow.
Line managers will be requested to discuss the review and the committee’s work with their staff to ensure that any concerns can be answered.
We will provide further updates as the committee’s work unfolds.
Jobs and facilities at the St-Jean Canadian Forces Language School secure following our union's intervention
(Posted July 13, 2007)
Following a strong intervention by the Agriculture Union, National Defence Minster Gordon O’Connor has ensured our members at the Canadian Forces Language School in St-Jean, Quebec that both their jobs and the facility itself are safe from downsizing or closure.
National President Yves Ducharme had contacted O’Connor after the media reported in mid-March that new Department of National Defence regulations would result in the abandonment of the long-standing requirement that Canadian Armed Forces officers become proficient in both official languages.
The Agriculture Union also wrote directly to all Members of Parliament and Senators over our concerns. These extended beyond our primary concern for the job security of our language training members. We also raised the issues of the wider impact on federal bilingual policies and on the operational effectiveness of armed forces personnel at home and abroad.
We are pleased to report that O’Connor response indicates that the government has heard and responded to these issues. The text of the Minister’s letter follows:
Mr. Yves Ducharme
National President
Agriculture Union
233 Gilmour St., Suite 1000
Ottawa, ON K2P 0P2
Dear Mr. Ducharme:
Thank you for your letter of March 15 in which you expressed your concerns regarding the Canadian Forces Language School St-Jean. I am sorry not to have been able to get back to you sooner.
Previously, the Canadian Forces had adopted a universal approach to access to language training that concerned officers only. However, over the years, the Official Language Commissioners had found that this approach was not successful. The universal approach did not produce the expected results, as bilingualism requirements increase with rank and the greater responsibilities of higher ranks.
The Defence Team has always advocated an approach in phase with its operational needs, while respecting its commitment to the Official Languages Act in all realms of activity. Unit commanders are responsible for ensuring coherent and uniform supervision, leadership, services and training while effectively managing their military and civilian staff.
The policy regulating the program of second language training arises out of the new National Defence Official Languages Program Transformation Model, which you may consult in both official languages at www.forces.gc.ca/hr/dol/frgraph/ TransModel_TOC_f.asp. This model describes the strategic orientation taken by the Canadian Forces to conform to the requirements of the Official Languages Act. I full approve of the Transformation Model that was signed by the Defence Chief of Staff and the Deputy Minister. This transformation model came into effect on April 1, 2007, and will be implemented over the next five years.
Following the re-evaluation conducted by the Department of National Defence on the primacy of its mission to protect Canada and its Citizens, the Transformation Model was created. The Department had also noted the absolute necessity of improving performance in official languages to successfully carry out is mission and conform to the Official Languages Act. The Transformation Model makes it possible to better target those individuals who need to take second language training as well as the time when this training should occur, which has an influence on the training conditions.
With respect to information in the media about second language training for senior officers in the Canadian Forces, this was quite simply inaccurate. The Canadian Forces are not reversing their position, as the media have implied. On the contrary, on reading the Transformation Model, you will see that in actual fact, the Canadian Forces want to conform more closely to the Official Languages Act. Our objective is thus to increase the number of bilingual senior officers. Consequently, leaders, instructors and staff assigned to priority services will be given precedence in second language training. At the end of the line, the Canadian Forces will be complying more, not less, with the Official Languages Act.
I have heard wonderful things about the Canadian Forces Language School St-Jean and its second language program from a former student who is now on duty in Afghanistan. It is gratifying to see that former students and various observers have appreciated the devotion and professionalism of the Language School staff. The Defence Team is very proud of its language programs, both those that promote the use of the two official languages within the Department and those it offers to foreign governments. The Department of National Defence is constantly striving to improve the quality of its language programs.
As Minister of National Defence, I would like to assure you of my commitment to creating a Defence Team made up of soldiers and civilians that is fully operational, with the qualities and values that are cherished by Canadians. As well, the leaders of this Team and myself will continue to work to improve our level of bilingualism, since the equality of the two official languages of Canada is counted among our operations and leadership. By improving our ability to express ourselves in French and in English, we will be better positioned to lead and supervise members of the Defence Team in the language of their choice. Members will be able to be served in the official language they prefer as set out in the Official Languages Act, without ever losing sight of the operational needs of the Canadian Forces.
In closing, I want to ensure you that the Department supports the continued presence of the Canadian Forces in St-Jean. The Language School is most definitely a major asset for the Defence Team.
Thank you again for your letter, and I hope that I have addressed your concerns.
Yours truly,
The Honourable Gordon J. O’Connor, P.C., M.P.
c.c. Prime Minister’s Office
Hon. Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board
Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry
Hon. Greg Thompson, Minister of Veteran Affairs
Hon. David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the
Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
Inky Mark, M.P. Dauphin-Swan River – Marquette
Rick Casson, M.P. Lethbridge
Our June ‘Rand’ campaign winner is…
(Posted July 4, 2007)
Congratulations to Paul Blais! Paul is the latest monthly winner in our coast-to-coast campaign to sign up ‘Rands’, dues-paying co-workers who, for one reason or another, have yet to sign a union card.
Paul is a newly-signed-up member of Local 70067, which represents our Canadian Food Inspection Agency members in Ottawa.
His name also joins those of all Rands who sign membership cards by year’s-end in becoming eligible for our year-end grand prize – two round-trip tickets to anywhere in Canada that Air Canada flies, or $1,000 in cash.
