February 6, 2008
PSAC Bargaining Units with Treasury Board (PA, SV, TC, EB, FB)
Negotiations with Treasury Board: SV Group
Your SV Team was in Ottawa from January 29 to February 1, 2008, to meet with the Employer.
Our efforts this week focused on pay zones and the apprenticeship issue. On Article 44, Maternity-Related Reassignment or Leave, the SV group experiences unique work issues around finding alternate work for pregnant and nursing members in workplaces that are hazardous or where the nature of the work poses a health threat to the members.
Ongoing discussions continued on allowances that included height pay, transportation of dangerous goods, NERT and dirty work. Talks centred on broadening the scope of allowances, as well as the method of their payment.
There were meaningful discussions on the apprenticeship issue, with movement on the Employer's part to entertain this issue.
Treasury Board viewed the Childcare/Family Fund discussions as something that must be done at a different venue. As the SV group has the lead on this, the Team believes that this important issue belongs at the bargaining table.
With the early retirement for enforcement and emergency workers, the Employer wished to review language for other groups and bring it to the next round for further discussions.
An extensive presentation on zones was made to the Employer on Thursday, January 31. We showed the Employer our “No Zones” DVD, with each team member adding more insights into how they and their fellow members are affected by zones. UNDE National President John McLennan was also on hand to support the team and expressed his views on zones. The presentation was well received by the Employer, and they indicated a willingness to work with us on this issue.
On Friday, February 1, the PSAC-REVP for the Prairies and AEC member resposible for the SV group, Robyn Benson, discussed the past week of negotiations and chaired a conference call at noon with the No Zones Committee. Workplace actions on the No Zones campaign should be ramped up to the next level. A number of options on how to do this were discussed.
Randy Sanderson presented a review of the ship's crew demands to the SV team. The ship's crew sub-committee will be returning for their next round on February 17. The SV Team will be returning to the negotiating table on February 26.
No Zones!
We want to be treated equally in the evaluation
of the value of our work.
Date Modified : 2010/01/29
