Annual General Meeting
For: Members of CEIU Local 581
When: Wednesday September 1st at 5pm
Where: Join Zoom Meeting
https://ceiu-seic-ca.zoom.us/j/85015282397?pwd=MjZGNnBzWnZHNXJaRzhrTE9IZ0xXUT09
Meeting ID: 850 1528 2397
Passcode: 668208
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Meeting ID: 850 1528 2397
Passcode: 668208
Elections will be held for the positions below. Please submit written nominations with a seconder to @douglas.muggah@servicecanada.gc.ca
President- 2 year term
Treassurer – 2 year term
Chief Steward – 2 year term
Thank you,
CEIU Local 581 – Executives
Federal vaccination requirements: No policy until after federal election
August 24, 2021
In a recent meeting with PSAC and other federal public service bargaining agents, Treasury Board committed to ongoing consultation in the development of a vaccine requirement framework.
The employer has confirmed that no new policy will be implemented until after the current federal election.
PSAC remains in support of vaccination requirements to protect the health and safety of our members and their communities. Throughout the consultation process, PSAC will ensure the protection of members’ rights in the workplace, as well as their right to privacy.
We will continue to provide updates as the federal government develops its vaccination requirements plan.
PSAC statement on vaccination requirements for federal public service workers
On August 13, the federal government announced it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all federal public service workers by early fall.
The government also expects that Crown corporations and other federally regulated employers will require vaccinations for their employees by the end of October.
As Canada enters a fourth wave of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for Canadians to do everything they can to protect each other and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Science has shown us that vaccinations – alongside other measures like masking and physical distancing – are the most effective ways to fight COVID-19 and keep each other safe.
PSAC supports measures to increase vaccination rates, including vaccination requirements for federal public service workers to protect our members, their colleagues, and our communities.
Governments and employers have an obligation to ensure our workplaces are safe for public service workers and Canadians everywhere.
Although we support the goals of the government’s proposal, it’s critical that any eventual plan put forward by the government that would collect or verify the vaccination or medical status of our members respects their legal right to privacy. The government must also provide accommodations for workers who cannot be vaccinated for reasons protected under human rights legislation.
We expect the government to continue consulting with unions on the implementation of their vaccination requirements to safeguard our members’ right to privacy and ensure that their human rights are respected.
Roy Page Scholarship 2021
To CEIU Members in Good Standing,
Please find attached the 2021 Roy Page Scholarship application. This year’s Scholarship will be awarded to up to six (6) applicants who are entering the first or second year of recognized post-secondary program. Applicants will be assessed on their response to one of two questions:
1. What role can unions play in the process of “truth and reconciliation”? You can consider the question from the perspective of the union and its membership, the union and the employer, the union and the political process, the union and Indigenous communities, or any other interpretation.
2. How do all workers benefit when the union centres anti-racism in its work? Or what does the union risk by not addressing racism in the workplace and in the union? Your answer can explore one or both issues.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, October 12th. Submission can be made by email to oninfo@ceiu-seic.ca. Please ensure the candidate reviews the form instructions in full and return a completed form with the submission.
In Solidarity,
CEIU Ontario Regional Council
Please contact your local executive for additional information if you’re interested in applying and / or would like a copy of the application form sent to you.
PA group begins negotiations with Treasury Board
The Program and Administrative Service (PA) group bargaining team met with Treasury Board representatives for the first time June 22-23 to exchange proposals packages. PSAC is committed to pushing for a fair deal that addresses the concerns and needs members identified at the National Bargaining Conference, and rejecting any concessionary proposals from the employer.
Key issues the PA team raised include:
- Expanded leave provisions, such as more paid time off to support mental health and tend to family responsibilities.
- Better pay for overtime and shift work, including a higher premium for weekend work.
- A new statutory holiday to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) and inclusion of the recently legislated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation holiday (September 30) into the collective agreement.
Though not part of this proposals package, improved wages and job-specific allowances are a key goal for this round of talks and will be included in the comprehensive wage proposal to be submitted later in the bargaining process.
The PA bargaining team will resume talks with the employer in September.
Common Issues
The common issues bargaining team held its first talks June 14-15 and exchanged its proposals package with Treasury Board. PSAC outlined several key areas targeted for improvement, including remote work, work-life balance, parental leave top-up, protections against harassment and contracting out, job security, and workforce adjustment.
The team also underscored the need for measures to address systemic racism in the workplace and to make progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to educate public service workers on the history of Indigenous peoples.
The union will study the government’s proposals in detail over the summer as part of preparations for the next common issues bargaining session in September.
Show your support
Meet your bargaining team and learn why they got involved in this round of negotiations. And show your support with our bargaining graphics:
- Video background for all your work meetings
- Social media frame for your social media profile picture
- Printable poster for your work area
Stay in touch
Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date via the member portalto receive all the latest updates as we negotiate your next contract. Read on psacunion.ca
Phoenix: Damages ruled taxable as Treasury Board refuses to cooperate
After months of waiting, the Canada Revenue Agency has rejected our request to review the taxability of Phoenix damages. This is directly due to Treasury Board’s refusal to provide CRA with a joint statement of facts which corrects CRA’s understanding of the purpose of our damages settlement agreement.
In an April 27 letter from the CRA, the Agency states:
As discussed in our meeting on February 3, 2021, we consented to reconsider our position only if the Employer and PSAC provided us with an agreed-upon statement of facts. As this did not happen, we have not considered any of the assertions in your draft statement of facts.
After numerous requests for Treasury Board’s cooperation, and direct appeals to Minister Duclos, they have refused any and all cooperation on the matter.Take actionIt’s clear they’re still angry that PSAC forced them to deliver a better deal for our members.
They’re frustrated that they have to honour the top-up clauses signed with the other unions to match our general damages agreement, and now they’re taking it out on PSAC members by sabotaging attempts to get a positive tax ruling.
Our union carefully worded the agreement to reflect a wide range of impacts suffered by PSAC members, including for “stress, aggravation, and pain and suffering and for the late implementation of collective agreements. There is a strong precedent of damages for those purposes being deemed non-taxable by CRA. The tax treatment of the general damages should reflect the purpose of that compensation as outlined in the agreement.
It is unacceptable that Treasury Board refuses to affirm these facts. Instead, they informed CRA that the agreement’s purpose is to resolve a policy grievance between the employer and the union – something that may be true for other unions, but not for PSAC’s damages agreement.
We will not let this stand without a fight.
While we continue to explore every legal avenue to appeal CRA’s decision, please take a moment to join our efforts by sharing your outrage directly with Minister Duclos and the Prime Minister.
Our goal is to ensure all PSAC members receive the full compensation they deserve and that we avoid any time consuming and complex tax disputes for individual members. We are also pushing Treasury Board to expedite the availability of the claims process for all former members and retirees who are still waiting to receive their Phoenix general damages.
We will provide additional updates to members about this ongoing work as we move forward.
In solidarity,
Chris Aylward
National President
Public Service Alliance of Canada
PS — For more information about Phoenix damages please check out our FAQ.Consulter la version françaiseJobs with PSAC
