Updates

CFIA representatives came to the table in June seeking a slew of unacceptable concessions, which our union bargaining team rejected. PSAC remains focused on negotiating improvements for the next contract that address member concerns.

Last month, PSAC’s bargaining team continued to push for demands that would establish parity with the core public administration and discussed important issues such as mental health in the workplace and improvements to maternity / parental leave. They also:  

They asked if employees should have the right to disconnect from work outside of their workplace hours.

We said Yes! Even though we are often all connected by computers and smartphones, it does not give our employers the right to make us 24/7 employees. Workers must be able to disconnect completely from their work and know that they will not be penalized if they do. An employer or colleague would not be permitted to randomly knock on your door at dinner time and start engaging you about work. – so they shouldn’t be able to do it by email either. And if there is a need to remain plugged in after-hours because of the nature of your work, you should be compensated for it.

The incentive package, first negotiated by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) in August 2017, ensured that former and current compensation advisors would receive incentives in exchange for remaining in high-stress assignments at the Public Service Pay Centre, which continues to struggle with a massive backlog of cases. 

Although in the past, mental health claims have comprised the highest portion of approved disability claims, this is the first instance where the percentage has exceeded 50 per cent in the 49-year history of the federal disability insurance plan. It is also significant to note that federal disability claims are only approved when an employee has been medically incapable of working for a minimum of 13 weeks or the expiry of accrued sick leave credits, whichever is later.

On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, Indigenous people in our union are inviting everyone to join us in celebrating in a new way, one that not only highlights all we have to be thankful for, but also to focus on all that we have to offer the world.