Association of Public Service Alliance Retirees
APSAR involvement in 2009
- Issue on the aging of the Canadian population : BRIEF, direct consultation with 750 RETIRED members and 800 active members across Canada .
- Reforms advocated by the federal government to the public service pension plans: workers’ contributions to their pension plan; a real swindle : 4% of their salary in 2004 increased to 8.4% in 2008.
- The threat to Old Age Security is still alive. The Association openly denounced the government’s hypocrisy.
- In July 2009, the Canada pension plan investment Board for the federal government employees’ pension fund announced it had achieved a MINUS yield: – 22.7% - QUITE a YIELD – The Association demanded from the federal government that retirees have a say in the management of their pension fund. This battle is far from over.
- The Association continued to accuse the current government of simply taking advantage of the status of federal public sector retiree to exploit them, as the legislation does not allow retirees to be directly represented on the committees that manage their pension plans.
26 new files dealing with some misunderstanding between various government levels concerning disability files decisions, causing the retirement of a worker: Astronomical amounts in excess of $100,000.00 are demanded within 30 days to victims who are often still hospitalised.
17 files related to the transfer of pension in divorce cases;
61 files directly related to the public service health care plan; payment of medication – payment of specialised treatment – hospitalisation payments – dental care – and others;
14 files dealing with violence: elderly persons abused;
11 social files resulting from suicides;
68 files dealing with the interpretation of various pieces of public service pension legislation or regulations;
As mentioned previously: more than 8.4 million dollars recovered by the beneficiaries of deceased members – money that would have been lost and which the government would have grabbed unscrupulously if the Association had not intervened;
78 files dealing with social assistance – members losing autonomy - member unable to find housing – members looking for specialised services due to a health condition. In 2009, this type of file increased significantly. Nevertheless, the Association was able to locate 52 former PSAC members, 28 of whom in the national capital region ( Ottawa-Gatineau);
437 telephone calls answered at the national office. Is there any doubt as to the need for an Association for retired former PSAC members?
Do you know of another Association that provides this type of service?
ALL THE ACTIONS AND INTERVENTIONS BY THE ASSOCIATION ARE DONE BY VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE OF THEIR TIME, THEIR UNION EXPERIENCE OR OTHER AND THEIR SENSE OF DUTY; DO NOT FORGET THIS EXTRAORDINALY COMMITMENT.
APSAR believes in the RESPECT and the DIGNITY of PSAC members after retirement. This phase of life already demands a difficult adaptation, and where several unexpected factors complicate things. It seemed logical that there should be a place where former PSAC members can turn to in order to get open, direct and specific answers to their problems, whatever they are. That is the mandate the Association of Public Service Alliance Retirees has given itself.
Michel Chevalier
National President
Date Modified : 2010/08/09
