Updates

Through its website, Canadian Heritage is asking people to submit their ideas and experiences so that the government’s anti-racism work can reflect these experiences. PSAC encourages all of its members, particularly racialized members, to participate in this important consultation.

You can learn more and participate in the survey by visiting the consultation website: Join the conversation: Anti-racism engagement.

The deadline for participation is December 9, 2018.

Diverse sectors were represented, including gaming, University workers, municipal government workers, Indigenous and community organizations, research and development workers and security and law enforcement. Members of DCLS discussed creative bargaining and mobilization strategies that they have successfully used to win better wages, working conditions and benefits. Activists shared ideas for change and improvement in how PSAC represents members of DCLs.

PSAC and UPCE vehemently oppose any company’s attempt to win a labour dispute by preying on workers when they are most vulnerable. Canada Post’s decision to not only deny its employees access to disability benefits, but to deny them of sick leave benefits while they are ill, injured, or disabled, is callous.

Following PSAC-CIU’s legal challenge, the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLRB) recently issued a decision affirming that the Employer needed to pay all members in accordance with the provisions of this new allowance for the month of June 2013. This decision makes it consistent with the sick leave and annual leave provisions. This victory will see over 1 million dollars givenback to the Border Services members affected and sets a precedent for any future allowances negotiated with similar language.

This means 30-year legal battles to resolve pay equity complaints will become a thing of the past. Instead employers will be responsible for developing pay equity plans, and must do so with the equal participation of worker representatives.

The legislation introduced also repeals the former Conservative government’s Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act which took away key pay equity rights from workers in the federal public sector.

PSAC is recommending a change to Bill C-81 to say that accessibility in employment must be handled under the Employment Equity Act.

Other recommendations include:

• Undertaking a long-overdue review and update of the Employment Equity Act
• Centralizing disability-related issues and accessibility in the federal public service by returning the responsibilities that have been devolved to departments to Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission, and
• Requiring Treasury Board to set up a central accommodation fund for the public service