The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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2019 AFS AGM - Headquarters Regional Report

At the AFS HQ Sub Group Annual General Meeting elections were held for the executive. The following members were elected to the Sub Group executive

Muhammad Alam Vice President

Art Iwinski Secretary

Michael Patterson Member at Large

Chris Patterson Member at Large

Abraham Garcia Member at Large

Domingo Chavez Member at Large

As a result of these changes, a new Sub Group core executive took office after the Sub Group Annual General Meeting in October. Congratulations to the new executive and thanks to the returning members for their continued service to the Sub Group: Susan Amog Hassall – President, Nick Watson - Treasurer, April Chen, Jyoti Tanotra and Andra Weis- Members at Large

The focus of AFS Headquarters Sub Group over the last year has been consultation with management and support for our bargaining team. With respect to consultation, the AFS Group Sub Group sits on 8 different Branch Union Management Committees in Headquarters. Each committee consists of the Assistant Commissioner of the Branch and their senior management team. Items impacting AFS members in the Branch are discussed at these meeting. In addition, AFS members and stewards serve on the Employment Assistant Program Committee, the Employment Equity Committee and various Occupational Health and Safety Committees throughout the Headquarters area.

Joint commitments to the Union Management Approach (UMA) have been signed with the Assistant Commissioners of all Branches in Headquarters where we have AFS members. UMA is a commitment by both the Union and Management to the following principles with respect to Union – Management relations

  • Equality of the parties in the consultative process;
  • Mutual trust and respect;
  • A commitment to be fair, sensitive and courteous in our dealings with each other;
  • Facilitating constructive decision making and problem solving at the lowest possible level, and;
  • Knowledge and mutual respect of legislation and national union-management policies

In October 2018, the AFS Group returned to the Bargaining Table to negotiate a new collective agreement. These sessions are on going and members continue to support the bargaining team by attending coffee breaks organized by the Sub Group and other events organized by PIPSC. Your support is critical in obtaining a fair and equitable agreement.

The AFS Group has been active in recruiting new stewards. Thanks to the new stewards for stepping up and thanks to all current stewards for their work on behalf of our members.

The AFS Group has also been active within the NCR. A large number of AFS members and stewards attended but the Regional Council and the Regional Stewards Council. At both of these events AFS members met is a separate meeting with members of the National Executive to discuss AFS issues.

In closing I would like to thank all AFS members in Headquarters for a successful year and I look forward to continued success if the coming year. I would also like to express my thanks to Susan and the rest of the Sub Group executive to stepping up and serving the membership. Your efforts are appreciated by your membership.

Brian Hassall

AFS HQ Regional Representative