News - May 2011                               Previous Month         Following Month

Headlines of the current month's news items are listed immediately below. Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.

Your chance to have input on a new NJC Travel Directive

New KeyInfo topic addresses harassment and bullying in the workplace

USGE Local launches fund-raising drive for Slave Lake members

and others driven from homes by wildfires

CFIA abandons key consumer protections

Your chance to have input on a new NJC Travel Directive

(Posted May 27, 2011)

The National Joint Council is a union-management body that establishes common federal public service employment practices, working conditions and benefits not covered by collective bargaining.

Every three years, on a rotating basis, the NJC launches a review of the various Directives that come under its authority. The Travel Directive is arguably one of the most important for Agriculture Union members.

The NJC has now officially asked its member unions – including our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada -- for suggested changes and additions to the current Travel Directive. In turn, the PSAC is asking the Agriculture Union and its other Component unions to seek input from their members on the shape of the new Directive.

Your feedback is welcomed. Please use the official input form, which can be found HERE. Simply print it off, fill it in and send it to the Agriculture Union National Office no later than Friday, July 15.

All current NJC Directives can be found HERE on our Web site

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New KeyInfo topic addresses harassment and bullying in the workplace

(Posted May 24, 2011)

Harassment and bullying don’t just happen in school yards. They are an all-too-common and inexcusable occurrence in workplaces, including those of Agriculture Union members.

That’s why we’ve just added this important topic to our list of KeyInfo fact sheets. It can be found HERE.

You’ll find it to be a particularly valuable resource document for Union Representatives who handle violence incidents in the workplace, including issues of harassment and bullying.

We continue to revise and add to our KeyInfo topics. As always, we welcome member suggestions for new subject matters.

USGE Local launches fund-raising drive for Slave Lake members and others driven from homes by wildfires

(Posted May 21, 2011)

A Local of the Union of Solicitor General Employees, a sister PSAC Component, has launched a fund raising drive to help its members who this past week were driven by raging wildfires from the northern Alberta community of Slave Lake.

The entire community of 7,000 – located 250 kilometres northwest of Edmonton – was evacuated May 15 after wildfires, fed by tinder-dry conditions and strong winds, blazed their way through much of the town.

Distraught and exhausted residents are being sheltered in emergency accommodations while waiting to learn what, if anything, of their homes and possessions survived the flames. Slave Lake, choked by smoke and without power or utilities, is a virtual ghost-town.

USGE Local 30009, whose members include RCMP civilian employees, is asking for donations to help these and other Slave Lake residents rebuild their lives. Agriculture Union Locals who wish to send a contribution should make their cheques payable to ‘USGE Local 30009’, adding the words ‘Slave Lake Fire’ elsewhere on the front of the cheque.

The donations should be mailed to Garth Caron, USGE Local 30009, c/o RCMP, 7575 8th Street NE, Calgary, AB T2E 8A2.

All funds received will be carefully segregated, with Local 30009 issuing a cheque for the total amount raised to either the Red Cross or the Town of Slave Lake to assist in disaster relief and recovery.

CFIA abandons key consumer protections

(Posted May 3, 2011)

(The Agriculture Union issued the following news release on April 28.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    April 28, 2011

CFIA abandons key consumer protections

Ottawa – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has abruptly and without explanation cancelled or deferred inspection activity in important areas designed to protect consumers from unsafe food products and fraudulent practices.

According to CFIA documents, the CFIA has indefinitely deferred inspection activities related to ensuring that consumer products available in retail outlets are not fraudulently under weight. In addition, sources have revealed that the CFIA has cancelled outright its restaurant menu verification program.

Widespread fraudulent activities related to deliberate mislabeling of products in grocery stores has recently come to light as a result of media investigations, work that should be done by the CFIA. And, new studies have just been published demonstrating that consumers can be fooled by inaccurate and misleading labels into buying products they would not otherwise purchase.

“What would our political leaders say if they became aware that the CFIA is ramping down its consumer protection activities, at the very time when industry practices show clearly consumers need protection?” asked Bob Kingston, President of the Agriculture Union – PSAC, which represents federal food inspectors.

CFIA has gradually been reducing its regulatory oversight activities in the area of consumer protection. According to the documents released this morning, routine CFIA surveillance of the declared weight of products has been “deferred”. This means that any producer or retailer is now free to fraudulently claim that their product weighs more than it does in fact.

“Just like everywhere else, there are bad apples in the food industry that have demonstrated time and again they cannot be trusted. When the CFIA withdraws from its regulatory oversight responsibilities – as they are now doing -- food manufacturers and retailers take advantage, to the detriment of consumers”, said Bob Kingston.

In addition, the CFIA has indefinitely cancelled inspection activities related to ensuring that restaurants menus are accurate and not fraudulent descriptions of their offerings. This means that restaurants are now free to make whatever claims they want about the nature of the foods on their menus.

“Claims that menu items are organic, or free of trans fats, or locally produced, can now be made by restaurants safe in the knowledge that no inspector from the CFIA will be checking, unless someone complains,” Kingston said.

“CFIA does not have the resources to fulfill its mandate. As a result, it is dropping activities it considers to be ‘low risk’, all the while hoping that nothing bad happens as a consequence,” Kingston said

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