May 18, 2022

After nearly a year of negotiations with Treasury Board, we made the difficult decision to declare impasse for more than 120,000 of our members in the PA, SV, TC and EB groups.

This week, we filed for conciliation with the federal labour board, and we’ll be ramping up our pressure on the government across the country this summer to reach a fair settlement quickly.

Every round of bargaining matters, but this one is especially critical. So much has changed for our members over the past two years, and our collective agreements need to reflect that. We’ve seen how the pandemic has impacted the way we live and work, and now the cost of living is getting out of hand.

We’re asking for sensible improvements to our members’ working conditions so that workers aren’t left behind. We need more options for remote work and better work-life balance as we recover from the pandemic, inclusive workplaces, better job security and fair wages that keep up with rising inflation.

But all we’ve seen at the table is disrespect from Treasury Board and a complete disregard for the issues that matter most to PSAC members. They have flat-out rejected our proposals on mental health and anti-racism and discrimination training for all federal public service workers.

They’re also hell-bent on pushing through concessions around technological change, discipline, leave provisions, and the Work Force Adjustment policy that will hurt workers.

But the real tipping point was the government’s insulting wage offeraveraging 1.75% per year over a four-year agreement from 2021-2025 that’s entirely out of touch with record-high inflation.

If the government expects PSAC members who have been getting Canadians through the pandemic to shoulder the costs of Canada’s recovery, they’re in for a rude awakening.

You deserve a fair and decent contract, and we’ll be counting on your support over the weeks and months ahead to fight for the issues that impact you.

Taking strike action is always a last resort, but if we need to go on strike to get the contract you deserve, that’s exactly what we’ll do. We need to be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action.

In solidarity,

Chris Aylward
PSAC National President

Good Afternoon, 

Members are invited to register for “Retirement Planning; What Are You Doing After Work?”.
Are you thinking of retiring in the next 10 years? If so, then this course is a must for you and your partner/family.
Can you afford to retire? Are you concerned about health issues? Wonder what you will do with your free time? Do you wonder how leaving your workplace will affect your family and friends?
The course is presented by retirees who have tackled those questions and a lot more in their lives.

Date: 
June 25, 2022 at 10:00 AM – 2:30PM
June 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM – 2:00PM

This course is best suited for participation on a computer (desktop or laptop).  A mobile device can be used (tablet, cell phone) however the participant experience may be affected.
 
Please note, the new policy for virtual learning can be found on the Regional website. The policy will be in effect for “Congress of Union of Retirees of Canada (CURC) – Virtual Version”. Upon successful completion of the course, members will be reimbursed as per approved policy. The Course must be completed in its entirety before the per diem is issued. PSAC Online Education Per Diem and Loss of Salary Policy

Loss of Salary: Eligible loss of salary reimbursement will be paid to members attending the virtual “Congress of Union of Retirees of Canada (CURC) – Virtual Version”, during hours in which they were scheduled to work. Any eligible loss of salary will be reimbursed upon confirmation of full attendance and completion of the course and in accordance with the applicable PSAC policy.

ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY:
This event is covered by the PSAC Statement on Harassment. 

Please register by utilizing one of the following: 

Register Here

or 

Poster

Have a Good Weekend!

Good Afternoon, 

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Ontario is inviting members to “TALKING UNION BASICS – Virtual”. This course introduces members to the PSAC and prepares them for more advanced union education. It provides an historical and structural overview of the union, introduces participants to the collective agreement and gives them a chance for hands-on practice in problem-solving.

This course will be delivered over two (2)separate days. Please read the dates and times carefully.
Section #1 – Friday, June 17, 2022 – 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Section #2 – Saturday, June 18, 2022 – 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

This course is best suited for participation on a computer (desktop or laptop). A mobile device can be used (tablet, cell phone) however the participant experience may be affected.

Please note, the new policy for virtual learning can be found on the Regional website. The policy will be in effect for Talking Union Basics – Virtual Version. Upon successful completion of the course, members will be reimbursed as per approved policy. The Course must be completed in its entirety before the per diem is issued.

Loss of Salary: Eligible loss of salary reimbursement will be paid to members attending the virtual Talking Union Basics, during hours in which they were scheduled to work. Any eligible loss of salary will be reimbursed upon confirmation of full attendance and completion of the course and in accordance with the applicable PSAC policy.
 
The following policies are in effect at all PSAC Events:
 
ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY:
This event is covered by the PSAC Statement on Harassment.

 
ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS:
The PSAC is committed to ensuring that the accessibility requirements of our members are respected. Please indicate your needs and provide any necessary explanation that will assist us in meeting them.
  

Registration deadline: May 26th, 2022

Approvals with be given on a first come first served basis so please register early to secure your spot. The course will be limited to 20 participants. Approved participants will be notified on May 27^th, 2022.

Please register by utilizing one of the following: 

Registration Link

HERE

Or

QR Code

PA bargaining: Treasury Board ignores key wage, equity issues

Negotiations at the PA table are nearing the breaking point after Treasury Board presented their comprehensive offer on April 28 rife with concessions and which fails to respond to most of the PA team’s key demands.

The employer refused to budge on the unacceptable wage offer they presented at the Common Issues table in March, with economic increases averaging 1.75% per year that fall well below inflation. Treasury Board also completely ignored the PA team’s key demand for wage parity with members at the Canada Revenue Agency.

Mental health and equity overlooked

The bargaining team was dismayed by Treasury Board’s silence on proposals related to mental health and equity. The employer did not respond to the team’s proposal for leave to support employee mental health and was completely silent about our proposal for an allowance to recognize employees who use Indigenous languages in the workplace. 
 
Treasury Board continues to reject PSAC’s proposals for mandatory training to address systemic racism, harassment, and discrimination for all federal public service workers and managers at the Common Issues table. This has left the team with no evidence that the government recognizes the need to dismantle systemic racism and address discrimination in the federal public service.  

Our bargaining team is very concerned about the lack of progress towards a fair deal for PA members.

Upcoming national event, stay updated

Other Treasury Board groups including SV, TC, and EB have bargaining dates set for May, which will give a clearer picture of how Treasury Board negotiations will shape up going forward. 
 
As Treasury Board bargaining reaches a critical point, we encourage you to register for our May 17 national panel to discuss the latest bargaining news, why strong mobilization is more important than ever, and how other PSAC members have taken job action to win important victories during the pandemic. 

You can also stay informed and engaged during this round of negotiations using our bargaining toolkit.

Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date via the member portal to receive all the latest updates as we negotiate your next contract.

Greetings,

May is Asian Heritage Month and the PSAC Toronto Racially Visible Committee would like to encourage all PSAC Members to join us in acknowledging this month.  

We will be holding a virtual event on May 11, 2022 at 6 PM, with guest speakers: Chris Ramsaroop from the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance (ACLA) and Kripa Sekhar from the South Asian Women Centre. Please RSVP here. 

Sadly, we have seen a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes throughout the pandemic. It is all our responsibilities to combat hate. PSAC has released a number of resources for members to access to take action and help end systemic racism. You can access those resources here. 

In Solidarity,

The PSAC Toronto Racially Visible Committee

The application process for the 2022 PSAC Scholarship Program is now open.

The program consists of 19 scholarships, including:

• Fourteen scholarships for dependent children of PSAC members who will be attending full-time studies at a recognized post-secondary institution in the fall of 2022;
• Three scholarships for PSAC members who will be attending university, college, or a recognized institute of higher learning on a full-time basis during the 2022–23 academic year;
• Two scholarships for PSAC members who will be studying on a part-time basis during the 2022–2023 academic year.

Deadline: June 24, 2022, at 11:55 p.m. EDT

Application details:

• PSAC Scholarship Program guidelines (PDF)
• Online application form

PSAC scholarships are awarded based on the merit of a 750–850-word essay, YouTube video, infographic, song, or other creative submission answering the current scholarship question about systemic inequities exposed by the pandemic.

Applicants must either be a PSAC member in good standing or the dependent child of a PSAC member in good standing as of March 31, 2022.

View the list of 2021 scholarship recipients.

We look forward to receiving your application!

The CEIU Ontario Front End/Outreach Committee is excited to invite you to our virtual region wide meeting on May 18, 2022, 7:00-8:30 PM using the ZOOM platform. Where, how and when? Please see the attachment for further details to RSVP.

Your Front End/Outreach committee

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has exclusive access to the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store from May 13th – June 5th only! The bulleted information below is a helpful guide to share with your team. 

WHAT THE EMPLOYEE STORE HAS TO OFFER:    

·        The latest product from our family of brands (Columbia Sportswear, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna)   

·        Items are marked up to 50% off regular retail pricing

WHAT TO BRING TO ACCESS THE STORE:  

·        The attached invite (printed or shown on mobile phone) 

·        Organization ID (membership card, business card, badge, pay-stub, signature of work email, uniform, etc.) 

·        Personal photo ID 

·        This invite is valid for you + 4 guests (you must be present) 

· This invite grants store access only (offer not valid online)

COVID RESPONSE:

We want you to know that the safety of our employees and shoppers is our number one priority. Below are some of the precautions we are taking to ensure safety while in our store:

• Face covering requirements in alignment with Provincial Guidelines
• Plexiglass dividers at check-in desk and registers
• Hand sanitizer stations 

Find store location and hours here or on the invite.

Please note the store will be closed on Monday May 23^rd in observance of Victoria Day.

Hello CEIU Ontario members – Today is the start of the election to vote for the Ontario Women’s Representative. The elections run – 9 a.m. (ET) on April 27th, 2022 and will close at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on May 4th, 2022.
If you have any questions regarding this election, please contact the CEIU National Office by email at vote@ceiu-seic.ca

Email us at localceiu581@gmail.com if you would like to feature any other candidate.