75th P/NWT RC - Regional Representation Report

Prairie/NWT Region

Report to the Regional Council

June 1 & 2, 2018

Overview

There have been changes in the Prairie/NWT Region over the last year. Since the retirement of the Prairie Regional Manager, I have been managing both offices in the Prairie/ NWT Region as well as the BC/Yukon Region.

It is still a critical time for Canada’s professional public service and for all Canadians. The Liberal government continues to attempt to fix the Phoenix issue with no success. The Institute continues to express our members’ frustrations and concerns with the Phoenix pay system and to urge the government to implement a new system that works as quickly as possible. We believe a new system that would work is best built by federal IT experts (our members) and that more workplace support should, in the interim, be provided to members facing Phoenix problems.

In the two years since Phoenix was rolled out (against our objections), the Institute has taken action on many fronts, including filing policy grievances against the Employer on behalf of members. It has also filed or is in the process of filing both Unfair Labour Practice Complaints and policy grievances for all our groups, alleging that the Treasury Board Secretariat has breached its obligations under the Collective Agreement (CA) and the legislation to implement the CA in a timely fashion. The Institute has spent many months assisting literally hundreds of members in filing individual grievances, many of which have been resolved, as well as writing to and meeting with ministers, arguing new measures be adopted to assist members, keeping the issue alive in the media, offering loans to those particularly hard hit, organizing many of our members to protest, and lobbying – successfully – for more money to be spent on fixing problems. The government’s lack of meaningful action has added tremendously to the demands on the Prairie office staff. All of the representational staff are carrying heavy workloads with ongoing demands of the Phoenix issue as well as the regular grievances, Workforce Adjustment, special assignments and the preparation and presentation of training programs. Of course, the demands of the representational side of the team adds a larger workload to our administrative team members, who are now required to take on additional duties. Prashila Chand and Bailey Campbell work very hard behind the scenes making the meeting and education event run smoothly.

To help this workload issue, Karyn Ladurantaye has been assigned to the Edmonton Office Team joining ERO’s Kris Hawkins and John Hanrahan. In addition we have added Meira Gisser to our Winnipeg Office Team.

Training Programs

A full range of training was made available to the stewards of the Prairie/NWT Region. The Regional Office is ensuring the educational values of the programs presented are high. In other words, we get the best education for our training dollar by presenting a new way of delivering information. “The café style” was used at the Steward Council and reviews from the participants were very positive. This program has a wide variety of short sessions and reference sheets to take away.

Conclusion

As the workloads increase, the membership becomes more stressed due to the public service cuts and the attacks on the public sector. With all these upheavals in the workplace, we must continue to support one another and work together with respect.

President Daviau said, “The role of public service professionals is to provide evidenced-based advice to politicians in the interest of Canadians and the public good. In response to this obtuseness, I am asking all PIPSC members to look past their frustration and channel their energy into action. In the words of Kevin Page, “Renewal must come from the base of the public service, given the vacuum at the top.” If the people in charge are making bad decisions, it is our responsibility to bring attention to these costly mistakes and offer our own viable solutions.” The government’s plan will have serious repercussions on the well-being of Canadians, their families, and their communities. Don’t let them forget. Get involved! Inform the members! Work together. Be part of the Better Together Program.

REMEMBER, YOU are your Union.

In Solidarity,

Ernie McLean

Regional Manager