Vol.

6, N 3 Fall 2012

#WeRallAffected by budget cuts

Canadians

health transportation parks

members careers jobs pensions veterans

neighbours

economy country borders historic public sites safety social assistance immigrants
farmers customers Inuit search & rescue Women future prosperity friends

First Nations

food safety environment

families communitiescontracts

bargaining

and much more

Photo: David Barbour

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40062596 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA 233 GILMOUR STREET OTTAWA ON K2P OP1

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EDITORIAL
A message from the PSAC National President

Our campaign for public services needs to be smart, focused and united
We are all affected by the cuts to public services and programs. PSAC members deliver valuable public services that are at the very heart of what defines Canada: services like food inspection, employment insurance, Old Age Security, environmental protection, preservation of parks and historic sites, search and rescue, assistance to veterans, support for our troops, border security and transportation safety. Over 18,000 of our union members have received affected letters since April of this year. I believe our We Are All Affected campaign is striking the right chord. It will remain the PSACs primary campaign for the next three years. For this campaign to be effective, we need to be smart, focused and united. Smart means giving members the tools and opportunities to speak up and tell your story. It means talking to neighbours, friends and local businesses about the services we provide and what the cuts will mean to them.
Photo: Cezary Gesikowski

ny way you cut it, its not an easy time for those of us who deliver public services.

PSAC members deliver valuable public services that are at the very heart of what defines Canada.

Focused starts with a common understanding of what we are up against, and building on our strengths. It means keeping your eye on the prize: strong public services for all Canadians. United starts with a common understanding that an injury to one is an injury to all, and a commitment to working together under a common PSAC banner. It means working with our allies as never before. I firmly believe we are under attack by the government because we deliver quality public services, and the government does not believe in those services. And we as a union and the labour movement in general remain the greatest obstacle for governments and their allies to implement their anti-democratic

agenda. We will continue to fight to uphold our rights and protect the services we provide. With the power of our members, I know we are up to the task. In Solidarity,

Robyn Benson, National President

Reaching out to members via social media

There are new ways to connect with our president: Keep in touch and comment via Robyns new Facebook Page: facebook.com/RobynBensonPSACAFPC Get the latest info about important issues by following Robyn on Twitter: @BensonRobyn: twitter.com/BensonRobyn

Winnipeg members show their support for the We Are All Affected campaign at the September 15 Day of Action.

IN MEMORIAM
Andrew (Andy) Stewart, a founding member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, died at the age of 79 in Ottawa on August 22, 2012. Andrew entered the federal public sector at the Canada Department of Agriculture Research Station in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and was elected 1st Vice-President of the Canada Agriculture National Employees Association in 1960. Andrew went on to serve the entire PSAC membership as its National President from 1976 to 1982. In retirement, Andrews commitment to the union movement never wavered. He will be sorely missed.

Our Union Voice is a quarterly publication of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Representing
180,000 members, PSAC is one of Canadas largest unions and is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress and internationally to Public Services International and UNI Global Union. Editor: Cezary Gesikowski

IN THIS ISSUE

Vol. 6, N 3 Fall 2012

Editorial Board: Mariam Abou-Dib, Sarah Belanger, Nicholas Galletti, Steve Jelly, Louise Laporte Design, layout and production: Janet Jorgensen Translation: PSAC Language Services ISSN: 1718-8652 Public Service Alliance of Canada, 233 Gilmour Street, Ottawa ON K2P 0P1 613-560-4200 Ce journal est aussi disponible en franais sous le titre Le Rassembleur.

PSAC working to get fair contracts for members ....................... 3 Importance of mental health in the workplace Check out our interactive map of Canada ................................... 4 Speak out about cuts to public services ...................................... 6 We are All Affected campaign in pictures ................................... 7 10 things the union has done for you .......................................... 8 2 I Our Union Voice I Fall 2012

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COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

PSAC working to get fair contracts for members across Canada

TC, FB and CFIA teams file for Public Interest Commissions
Bargaining teams for the FB group, the TC group and the CFIA group have filed for Public Interest Commissions to resolve outstanding items in bargaining for their new collective agreements. A Public Interest Commission (PIC) under the current labour legislation is similar to the Conciliation Board under the old Public Service Staff Relations Act. The two bargaining teams will appear before the PIC and each party will present its rationale for the proposals that are still on the bargaining table. The role of the PIC is to review the submissions and make recommendations to the Employer and to the Union within 30 days of the hearing. Although the recommendations are not binding, it is hoped that both parties will be guided by the recommendations to a fair and decent collective agreement. For more information, check out the bargaining section of our website: http://ow.ly/eVMg8

Importance of mental health in the workplace

Too many Canadians, including PSAC members, suffer from mental health issues. Often they suffer alone without adequate treatment. Mental illness affects us all in our homes, in our communities, in our workplaces. Employers at all levels have a responsibility to ensure that their workplaces do not contribute to mental illness. Regrettably, many workplaces increase mental health problems. For more information and resources visit our website: http://ow.ly/eVMpB

PSAC-UTE begin bargaining with Canada Revenue Agency

PSAC-UTE presentedits package of bargaining proposalsto CRA in September. We made it clear to management that our union is determined to achieve new protections and rights in this round of bargaining, rights and protections that in many areas reflect what has already been agreed to for other unionized workers in the federal public sector. We also explained to CRA that we are opposed to the cuts that are being implemented by the Agency and the government, and that we are hopeful that the Agency will work with us in this round to improve working conditions for PSAC-UTE members at CRA. Get updates on bargaining at: http://ow.ly/f2ajq

Fair deal sought at Canada Post

Bargaining with the Canada Post Corporation began in September with PSAC-UPCE tabling a series of comprehensive proposals. Canada Post has taken a disappointing stance by proposing a number of concessions. The corporations vision is a two-tier world of different provisions for different workers, including on issues such as job security, vacation leave, post-retirement benefits and pensions. The PSAC-UPCE bargaining team is not interested in the corporations all-or-nothing approach, and expects it to bargain fairly by considering each of the unions proposals on their own merits. Stay informed about the latest bargaining developments by visiting our website: http://ow.ly/eVMmY
Photo: Cezary Gesikowski

PSAC files grievance on alternation failures

On June 15th, 2012, PSAC filed a grievance with respect to the failure of many departments to abide by the alternation provisions in the workforce adjustment appendices, and the failure on the part of the employer as a whole to establish a system that works across departments. We are asking that the employer establish a cross-departmental alternation system immediately and that they consult with PSAC with regards to this. We are also asking that the 120 days time period to find alternation opportunities restart once an alternation process has been established. The employer has demonstrated no appetite to create a cross-departmental alternation system that is transparent and workable or in extending the alternation period for employees who have opted for the one year surplus period. Consequently we have referred this grievance to arbitration, and are hoping to accelerate the process to the extent possible. Although we are worried that possible procedural delays may mean that some current opting employees will not be able to access alternation opportunities, we are also of the firm opinion that the limited measures that Treasury Board appears to be willing to take will be of no assistance either.

Meet your PSAC-UPCE bargaining team

From left: Erna Post, Negotiator; Hlne Arbique, member of UPCE National executive Committee and president of the Montreal Local; Yvan Blanger, National President UPCE; Kristin MacLean, Service Agent at the Winnipeg Contact Centre, Human Rights co-facilitator, president UPCE local 50100; Brian Collins, Resource Optimization Officer at Canada Post, president UPCE Local 90100; Franois Paradis, Pension Centre Supervisor at Canada Post, Ottawa, CLC Labour College in 2012; (not in the photo) Shawn Vincent, PSAC Research Officer.

Workers at St. Johns International Airport seek fair wages

After unsuccessful talks facilitated by a federal mediator, workers at St. Johns International Airport have been on strike since September 11, 2012 to ensure there are no concessions related to job security, contracting out of bargaining unit work, their pension and health benefit plan, as well as staffing. Members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees are fighting to achieve a fair and equitable agreement that reflects the important work they do. The workers are seeking a wage increase that would bring them in line with comparable international airports and the strong and the healthy economic situation of both the St. Johns region and their employer.

Protecting members during downsizing

In addition to the grievance on alternation, PSAC has filed several grievances to protect members rights during downsizing. For more information on your rights under the workforce adjustment appendix, go to: www.psac.com/wfa Fall 2012 I Our Union Voice I 3

GOVERNMENT CUTS

Check out the interactive map of Canada with the latest cuts to hit communities across the country
Many critical public services cut by the Conservative government are already having a profound impact on Canadians across the country. Here is just a small sample of the impact these cuts are having on our communities.
Dawson Creek, Yukon
Community warns shutdown of popular Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site will hurt tourism and local economy.

Canadians reflect on how federal cuts affect them directly

Canadians across the country talk about the cuts affecting their communities and their personal lives. Here is what some of them had to say.
When the cuts hit here its going to affect my customers. These are individuals who spend money in my store. When these cuts impact them; its money right out of my pocket. This is also money that is coming out of the local economy in my town. All of the businesses will be affected. Theres a snowball effect, and it takes money out of everyones pocket.
Brad Barkhouse, Owner/Operator of the Book Worm, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador

H
Nunavut
Inuit communities in Nunavut among those hard hit by Health Canada cuts to Aboriginal health programs.

ow are you affected by the cuts? Are you someone who works in a federal government office? Are you someone who relies on a government service that has been cut? Is a family member losing their job? Are you a small business owner who counts government workers as your customers? Wed like to know, and to share your story on our web site http://ow.ly/eVLSj and Facebook page: facebook.com/psac.national

See map online at: http://ow.ly/eVM45

St. Johns, Newfoundland & Labrador

Food safety threatened by closure of a St. Johns food inspection lab.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouvers marine community says shutdown of Kitsilano Coast Guard Station puts lives at risk.

We dont understand the initiative to close the Parks Canada laboratory in Dartmouth housing precious artifacts from the Mikmaw and Acadian people. () There are so many artifactsfrom Mikmaw objects to the Aboiteau that this laboratory helped fix. It took them 3 years to get it reconstructed. These artifacts belong to us, they belong to Nova Scotia. Our researchers need these artifacts for their studies, its necessary for young Acadians to understand their heritage and ancestry. Nova Scotia risks losing a big part of their culture, their history, with the departure of these artifacts.
Charles Gaudet, Director of La Fdration acadienne de la Nouvelle-cosse, Dartmouth, NS

Near Kenora, Ontario Consul, Saskatchewan

Consul just one of the small prairie communities devastated by decision to end the Community Pastures Program. Scientists and communities say shutdown of Experimental Lakes research facility is short-sighted.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Shutdown of PEIs only Veterans Affairs office forces veterans to travel to New Brunswick for face-to-face service.

National Capital Region

Library and Archives Canada cuts mean less access to historic documents.

Brooks, Alberta
XL Foods E. coli outbreak follows budget cuts to food inspection and a push for less hands-on federal inspections.

St. Andrews, New Brunswick Winnipeg, Manitoba

Unemployed Help Centre says clients are waiting longer for EI cheques because of Service Canada cuts. DFOs St. Andrews Biological Station closure means less protection of marine environments, less support for the fishing industry.

There are many more affected Canadians than the federal government is letting on. In the Agriculture sector alone, many positions are being Cape Breton, Nova Scotia deleted. The Prairie Farm Job cuts and reduced hours at the Cape Rehabilitation Breton Highlands National Park will hurt Administration services and tourism industry. (PFRA) branch is being completely wiped out, will no longer be a government agency, and, within a few short years, will cease to exist. We are a rural family living the dream, or were up until April 11, 2012 when we had the rug pulled out from under us. We are one of the affected families in the PFRA. Not only did the federal government and its agencies not give prior warning, they have now left us in limbo.
A letter from a Pasture Managers Wife, http://ow.ly/eVMHP

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Transfer of Canadas last federally-run veterans hospital to the province of Quebec means less specialized care for veterans.

Affected Profile

Job Loss

Service Loss

To read more statements from Canadians, visit: weareallaffected.ca Fall 2012 I Our Union Voice I 5

4 I Our Union Voice I Fall 2012

SPEAK OUT

Speak out about cuts to public services

Canadians have a right to clear information from their government about what federal public services are being cut and how these cuts will affect them.

ll members have the right to tell their union about how the cuts are affecting the services they provide. We encourage you to help PSAC tell Canadians about how these services are being affected. The public needs to know before its too late.

Torontonians put McGuinty, Harper, Ford and Hudak on a public mock-trial for their anti-worker agendas and sweeping cuts to vital public services. Left to right: Town Crier, Bob Black, Judy Rebick (Canadian journalist and political activist), Sharon DeSousa (PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, Ontario) and Syd Ryan (President, Ontario Federation of Labour) presided over the court.

NEWS BRIEFS
Pension changes an attack on the next generation of public service workers
In its omnibus budget bill, the government is ramming through changes to the public sector pension plan. These amendments unilaterally alter public sector pension plans and include increasing the normal retirement age from 60 to 65 for new hires beginning in 2013.

Tell us about service cuts and tell us your story

http://ow.ly/eVMYS Contact your nearest local union representative, your Component office, or the PSAC regional office in your area if you have concerns or questions about your rights or if your management is attempting to restrict your rights.

Another change in the bill is that now, public service workers are going to be paying 50% of the contributions to the public service pension plan. Like all responsible employers, the federal government will also pay 50%. PSAC opposes this bill because it is an attack on younger generations who make up the majority of new hires in the public service. The increase in the retirement age will generate a two tier system, creating inequities between young and older workers in the public service, forcing younger workers to retire at an older age. PSAC is calling on the government to focus on strengthening pensions for all Canadians instead of weakening pension plans and retirement security for Canadians dedicated to public service.

Guidelines for free speech in the workplace

Every PSAC member has the right to freedom of expression and other civil and political rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, members also must balance these rights against their obligations under the Treasury Board Values and Ethics code and their respective organizations code if one exists. Before you speak out, here are a few things to consider:

Past service in Canadian Forces now counts for vacation leave

Thanks to the PSACs advocacy work, former members of the Canadian Forces are now able to bring their vacation entitlement with them when they join the federal public service. On July 19, 2012, PSAC and Treasury Board signed a memorandum of agreement amending the PA, SV, TC, FB and EB collective agreements to recognize service in the Canadian Forces for the purpose of calculating vacation leave entitlement. More details online: http://ow.ly/eVNEY

Progress on Essential Services Agreements for Treasury Board and Agency units
Essential Services Agreements (ESAs) are nearly settled for a number of PSAC bargaining units and negotiations continue for other bargaining units. Essential services are the services, facilities, or activities deemed necessary for safety or security of the public that the Government of Canada would continue to provide in the event of a strike. Since the new labour relations legislation (the Public Service Labour Relations Act) came into force, the union and the employer have had to negotiate new essential services agreements. ESAs must be reached before a bargaining unit can strike. More details on collective agreements that expire before 2013 are available online: http://ow.ly/eVNK8

Are you engaged in a private or a public discussion? What is your role during the conversation union officer or employee?

Heres how to determine where the boundaries lie:

Public Is the message being recorded or published? For example, most social networks, media interviews, letters to the editor, town hall meetings and Facebook posts that are not screened are considered public spaces. It is always best to assume when talking to the media that your statements are on the record. Private A conversation where you are sharing information in confidence and are not being recorded. If youre not sure, ask.

PSAC wants Bill C-45 opened up to public debate

Once again, the Conservative government is pushing through hundreds of pages of major legislative changes without consulting Canadians. PSAC has major concerns with Bill C-45, the latest budget implementation bill. We voiced similar concerns with the first omnibus budget bill in the spring, Bill C-38. Our concerns echo the criticism being expressed by the opposition parties, environmental, scientific and Aboriginal groups. We join the call for Bill C-45 to be split into parts and debated separately. Many of these legislative changes will have a drastic impact on Canadians and should not be rushed through Parliament without time for careful consideration, public scrutiny and debate. See PSACs full review of both omnibus bills at weareallaffected.ca

You should never say things about your employee or co-workers that are insulting, demeaning, discriminatory or threatening. 6 I Our Union Voice I Fall 2012

WE ARE ALL AFFECTED

1.
Members taking action across the country
1. PSAC members, other labour unions and community
groups in Hamilton marched in recognition of the difficult road ahead for workers in Canada with this federal governments austerity agenda.

2. Participants marching during the National Day of

Action in St. Johns on September 15th.

3. Members at the National Day of Action in Halifax. 4. Supporters at PSAC National Action Day in Ottawa. 5. Members at the National Day of Action in Winnipeg
on September 15th.

6. More than a hundred PSAC members, the Quebec

Federation of Labour and their families gathered in the parking lot of Universit Laval for a tailgate before the football match of the Rouge et Or team.

2.

7. Information Corn Boil and Food Drive at the Eco

Festival Farmers Market in Bouctouche, NB was dominated by PSAC members and supporters during the September 15th National Day of Action.

8. Bracing the wind during PSAC Labour Day BBQ in

Iqaluit at the Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.

9. PSAC giveaways spread the strong message against

the cuts in Abbotsford, BC.

10. A huge outdoor mural depicting our members

providing services to the public was unveiled in Whitehorse during the National Day of Action on September 15th. See more photos at: http://ow.ly/eVMUw

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Fall 2012 I Our Union Voice I 7

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YOUR UNION

We are in the news

We took on the secrecy of the governments cuts to jobs and the services that PSAC members provide in the media.

Pay equity court win

We continued the legal battle for pay equity in the courts and won a historic settlement at the Supreme Court against Canada Post.

Job security
We defended and continue to defend job security provisions so that PSAC members are not booted onto the street with 2 weeks notice, but given strong transition support measures.

Stronger contracts
We negotiated stronger contracts for thousands of workers in the federal government, provincially regulated organizations and in territorial governments so PSAC members can benet from job protections and decent working conditions in these tough economic times.

Alternation process
The government failed to ensure those who wanted to stay could swap with those who were ready to leave the public service. So we took them on and led grievances on their failure to prepare a proper alternation process.

Legal defence
Our legal team defended the rights of individual PSAC members and fought back discrimination for family status, racial discrimination and other violations in the workplace.

WFA information
We deployed our team across the country to explain members rights under workforce adjustment and developed the tools members need on our website so that you can make the right decision during down-sizing.

And thats just what we did last year!

Dont forget what we have achieved together in the past: Pay equity Paid maternity and parental leave Decent wages for middle class families Job security protections A strong pension plan Supportive leave provisions and exible work arrangements

Jobs and the economy

We commissioned independent reports in BC, the Atlantic and nationally that demonstrated the negative economic consequences of cutting government programs and services.

Community partners
We partnered with municipalities, provinces and other stakeholders to stand up for strong federal services across Canada.

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Mental health advocacy

We called for a national mental health strategy to push the government to take the current mental health epidemic seriously and deal with its root causes.

Visit www.psac.com/signup for more information on union services and how we can work together for a better workplace.

8 I Our Union Voice I Fall 2012