Dear PSAC Southwestern Ontario Members, 

The London Regional Office will be running online and in-person information and training sessions on strikes and mobilization efforts for Treasury Board. The virtual session will run on January 12, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm. The in-person session will run on January 24, 2023 from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm in the London R.O located at 401-244 Pall Mall Street, London ON.

Please ensure that you are a member in good standing and that your contact information is updated prior to registration. To sign a union card to update your standing and information please go to:

psacunion.ca/rand

To register for either session, follow the QR codes on the attached poster, or click on the following links for the registration forms. 

Virtual (zoom) January 12, evening: 

https://psac-afpc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5wsdOqtqDosH9b3oL3E7hi33HoeAa8HxBZp

In-Person (401-244 Pall Mall) January 24, afternoon: 

It is a Facebook invite but you don’t need to have Facebook to join the event. The link should redirect you to the Zoom link around the time of the meeting. It is recommended that you download Zoom ahead of time.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5081569498557723/permalink/5679280522119948/

December 21, 2022

The federal government’s blanket hybrid work plan tramples on workers’ collective bargaining rights and forces a flawed one-size-fits-all approach on a diverse and evolving public service.  

This week, PSAC is filing a statutory freeze complaint against Treasury Board and agencies for unilaterally imposing changes to our members’ working conditions while we’re in negotiations for 165,000 federal public service workers. Making changes to working conditions while those very same issues are at the bargaining table is against the law. 

In the coming weeks, we’ll also provide guidelines to support members and PSAC components in filing grievances against the government once the policy comes into effect January 16. 

You can take action today by sending a clear message to decision-makers that we won’t settle for anything less than a contract that enshrines a fair process for remote work in our collective agreement and provides wages that keep up with the cost of living. 

Add your name today

More than 80% of PSAC members surveyed oppose the government’s hybrid work plan and are prepared to take action – including taking strike action – to fight for better work-life balance, fair wages, protections against harassment and discrimination in the workplace and other top bargaining priorities. 

Strike votes next step for a fair contract 

We’ve seen nothing but disrespect from this government at the bargaining table, and Treasury Board’s senseless hybrid work policy adds insult to injury. It’s becoming clear holding strike votes to secure a strike mandate from PSAC members is the only way we’ll make real gains at the bargaining table. PSAC will be in touch with members in the new year to communicate next steps as we continue to escalate our pressure on the government. 

Take a few minutes to fill out our short survey to show your support for ramping up our mobilization activities across the country and, update your contact information to make sure you’re getting all the latest bargaining updates in your inbox or via text message.

https://psacunion.ca/psac-2023-calendars-now-available

GoC Together has written the attached Open letter to the Government of Canada regarding the future of remote work for federal public servants. We encourage you to read it and consider adding yourself to the petition.

https://www.goctogether.ca/en/letter-to-the-employer

Message from the CEIU National President 

Today, an emergency meeting of the CEIU National Executive was held to discuss the government’s order to return to the office.

The entire National Executive feels that this decision is deeply binding on our membership. 

We are continuing our conversations with the employer to try and reach a mutual understanding. 

We will get back to you in the coming days with more information.

In Solidarity,

Eddy Bourque

National President

December 15, 2022

Despite a week of denials, Treasury Board announced today it would unilaterally impose a restrictive hybrid work policy for all federal public service workers in the core administration.  

This blanket policy mandates workers to come into the office 2-3 days per week, or 40-60% of their regular working hours; regardless of the operational requirements of their job.  

The policy comes into effect January 16, 2023, and will be fully implemented by March 31. Agencies and separate employers have been urged to put in place similar policies.  

The government’s decision doesn’t have the best interest of workers at heart and is completely at odds with the direction the government has been moving towards for remote work. 

It’s unacceptable that right before the holidays, workers will be scrambling to make new arrangements for child care, transportation, and possibly relocating if they’ve been hired remotely and are now being asked to come into the office.  

We demand that the government halt their plan. PSAC is reviewing all our options in response to this announcement, and will take the necessary steps to protect our members’ ability to work remotely.  

Federal public service workers have proven they can deliver the services Canadians depend on, whether working remotely or in the office.  

Remote work must be negotiated at the bargaining table 

Remote work is a key issue at the bargaining table for PSAC’s 165,000 federal workers this round of bargaining, and unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of our members’ employment during negotiations is an egregious violation of workers’ collective bargaining rights. 

The lack of clarity around the policy raises more questions than answers, and PSAC does not have confidence the government can put in place the health and safety requirements and the necessary tools for all federal public service workers to return to the office in the new year. 

Members who have already returned to the office have told us they’ve come into the office without desks or chairs available for them, or returned to empty buildings to spend the entire day on video calls with colleagues working elsewhere. 

We will continue to provide updates to PSAC members as we fight to protect our members’ rights.

Dear members,

Most of you have received the email sent by the Deputy Minister’s office regarding the Treasury Board’s announcement that we will be mandated back to work in the office for 2-3 days per week.

This announcement has come to the surprise of everyone. Neither PSAC and CEIU were consulted in this decision and both will be fighting this decision. Already meetings are being had and plans are being made.

One thing is for certain, this will only help mobilize our membership. The Treasury Board knows that we are in Collective Barganing and that one of the main items being negotiated is the work from home.

I encourage everyone to voice their opinion. Whether you want to return to the office or not. We are not asking that everyone work from home, we are asking for the right to choose whether we work from home or not. Feel free to share the attached images on your social media, send it to your friends or family. Make sure Mona Fortier knows how much we appreciate her gift.

Let’s unite in solidarity!