July 13, 2007

PSAC Bargaining Units with Treasury Board (PA, SV, TC, EB, FB)

Treasury Board demands focus on removing or reducing key benefits

All of the PSAC negotiating teams for our Treasury Board units met with the employer in bargaining sessions in May and June. During those sessions, the five teams tabled our bargaining demands reflecting the improvements we are trying to achieve. However, Treasury Board also has come to the bargaining table with their demands, many of which require an immense amount of interpretation.

For instance, the Employer wishes to discuss a new approach to pay. Since our initial discussions at the bargaining table focus on non-monetary demands, it will be some time down the road before the employer's position on any monetary issue is known.

Treasury Board wants:

• the elimination of additional sick leave for shift workers,
• the elimination of the right to have a complete and current job description,
• the elimination of vacation advance payments

The employer is also asking for:

• a reduction in the amount of vacation leave members can carry over,
• a reduction in the amount of overtime part time workers can claim,
• reductions to call back and reporting pay entitlements,
• a reduction in the number of situations where double time for overtime work would apply,
• a reduction in the notice period for changes to shift schedule from 7 days to 48 hours.

The employer also wants to increase and/or adjust core working hours for some groups and have indicated they intend to table demands on severance pay and Work Force Adjustment.

Although some Employer demands are unclear at this point, many are perfectly clear. Your bargaining teams are committed to saying NO to any demand calling for a roll-back in current terms and conditions of employment.

The negotiating teams are back at the bargaining table in October. Check in at www.PSAC.com for regular bargaining updates.

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