CFIA PI Review: Pushing on many fronts
(Posted November 22, 2007)
As our CFIA members are well aware, the PI Review is a massive exercise. The multi-year Review demands and consumes many resources of both the employer and the union.
That said, our CFIA members can be assured that we are pushing the process on many fronts, as far and as fast as is possible.
For instance, the Agriculture Union is working hard to settle a number of outstanding issues around the Review, such as the order of grievances to be heard, retroactivity concerns, acting pay grievances and the Plant Program EG-3 job description.
As always, we will keep our members updated as the process continues to an ultimate conclusion.
PI Review acting pay grievances put in abeyance
(Posted November 21, 2007)
Last month, we posted an article outlining several grievance options to dispute results of Canadian Food Inspection Agency PI Review mediated job descriptions. (For direct reference, the article may be viewed by clicking here.)
Three possible scenarios were listed, the third of which was an acting pay grievance for when a member believes the employer’s decision should have taken into account duties carried out, but not acknowledged by the employer, which are classified at a higher level. The Agriculture Union and the employer have now agreed to place these grievances in abeyance until other grievances are dealt with.
Grievances filed with regard to the other two scenarios – dealing with ‘classification’ and ‘statement of duties’ (mapping error) – will continue to go forward.
In the case of the ‘statement of duties’ (mapping error) grievance, the grievance must be heard at the first level in the regions before being sent on for final determination. The first level is where the information about the member's duties in question can be discussed by parties who know the details. Be sure to forward to the Agriculture Union National Office all of the information and arguments presented at that level with any other relevant information.
In the case of the classification grievance, it will be dealt with at the national level, so please forward copies of the grievance and relevant information, after the employer signs it, to the Agriculture Union National Office.
Worth remembering: new duties don’t automatically mean a changed classification
(Posted November 20, 2007)
As much as we would like it to happen, not all changes or additions to duties mean a new classification level. Or, if it does, there’s no guarantee it will happen right away.
Our recent request that our EG members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provide us with information on new tasks they have been doing since June 2000 is a case in point.
We need that information so that, down the road, we can argue our case from a solid, knowledgeable position. Given that the employer is still dealing with some job descriptions unchanged for almost 30 years, priorities are inevitably set.
New duties can result in extra points being applied to a job description. Sufficient points can – but not necessarily – push a position into a higher classification. However, equally, new duties have the potential of lowering the total number of points by shifting the focus away from duties that are in fact higher-rated.
There are steps our EG members at CFIA themselves should be doing now about new duties assigned since 2000 to protect themselves going forward. They should get the following information in writing from their supervisor (an e-mail will suffice) confirming:
• what new duties have been assigned since June 2000;
• the date each duty was assigned; and
• that the new duties will be reflected in the work description when reviewed.
The employer has agreed to accept this information when the time comes to address these issues. It’s an investment for the future that we hope will pay off.
PSAC recognizes years of dedicated service by two Agriculture Union staff
(Posted November 9, 2007)
Two of our National Office staff have been recognized by our bargaining agent, the Public service Alliance of Canada for reaching important milestones in their years of service to Agriculture Union members.
Christine Gauthier, our Administrative Assistant & Membership Clerk, received a 20-year Service Pin, and Administrative Officer Larry Budge a 15-year Service Pin, at the PSAC’s annual Founders’ Day.
The photo above shows Larry and Christine at the November 8 event. Congratulations to both of them!
Our October ‘Rand’ campaign winner…
(Posted November 8, 2007)
Congratulations to Malorie Hill! Malorie is the latest monthly winner in our campaign to sign up ‘Rands’, dues-paying co-workers who, for one reason or another, have yet to sign a union card.
Malorie is a newly-signed-up member of Local 46, which represents our members in Calgary, Alberta.
Her name also joins those of all Rands who sign membership 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 cas
In remembrance of Janet Edwards
(Posted November 2, 2007)
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It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of Sister Janet Edwards.
Janet was a member of Local 50071 in Winnipeg and a longstanding member of the Agriculture Union Equal Opportunties Committee.
For those who knew Janet, her obituary can be found here.
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