Negotiations

Update on the re-negotiation of the Public Service Health Care Plan  

The Public Service Bargaining Agents (which includes the PSAC), the Federal Superannuates National Association (FSNA) and the Employer are continuing the process of re-negotiating the Public Service Health Care Plan and the Trust Agreement.    

There are a large number of issues on the table and their complexity has resulted in a slower pace to the negotiations. Recent discussions, which took place on October 18th and 19 th focused on extending the timelines for the negotiations.   Further time was needed to allow the parties more opportunities to continue to meet.   The three parties determined that an extension of the originally agreed time limits was necessary, before initiating third party proceedings.    

Acting on recommendations from the bargaining teams, the NJC Executive Committee with the participation of FSNA subsequently agreed on October 27th to delay the date for initiating binding arbitration until June 1, 2005 .   The parties also agreed to extend the Plan and Trust Agreement beyond their current expiry date of March 31, 2005 to accommodate continued negotiations after this date, as necessary.    

The parties also took steps to ensure that the existing Administrative Services Contract with Sun Life can be extended, if required, beyond June 30, 2006 , and to provide for the participation of the three parties in the process of tendering a new adminstrative services contract in the future, probably following the current round of negotiations.  

Negotiations will continue on December 10th and 13th.