75th ARC - NBEN Group Report

May 25-26, 2018

Executive Meeting Dates

  • July 13, 2017
  • December 7, 2017
  • March 26, 2018

General Meeting Dates

  • AGM – June 6, 2017
  • New Executive:

John-Michael McPhee – President

Mike Pauley – Vice President

Glen MacDonald – Treasurer

Melissa Cummings - Secretary

Sheila MacLean – Member at Large

Josh Fox – Member at Large

Pensions

  • Joint Pension Council with the other NB Groups continues to forge ahead with a constitutional challenge with PIPSC council. There has been little activity as of late while they wait for a court date. It is ongoing and the pension issue has to be solved in NB before it spreads to other PIPSC members. Court action is pending for the constitutional challenge.

ENG III Classification (PDQ) Review

  • As there were a couple of PDQs in the queue for the ENG III Classification that surpassed the Hay Points for the position but fell short for next highest classification Treasury Board opened full review of all ENG III positions.  This could see many member re-classified into a new pay grid.  Getting paid for the work they do.

Areas of Concern

  • With our Agreement set to expire in February 2019, bargaining is beginning to be talked about.  We’d hope to resolve “loose ends” left after the last round of bargaining.
  • With a looming Provincial election we are seeing larger than normal budgets but the hiring has not kept pace, hence, members are being overworked.  To help with the situation, the employer has turned to outsourcing as a solution.  This is not only fiscally irresponsible but could lead to some complicated work situations as members will be asked to train consultants to do the job of other members.

Consultation

  • Provincial LMCC – This group met twice since the last ARC (November 14, 2017 and April 10, 2018) and have had very constructive discussions.  With respect to NBEN we  discussed the issue of Recruitment and Retention, ENG III Classification, and the Vacation Pay-Out. 
  • Departmental LMCC – New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI) continues to have an active committee with management. The committee meets approximately 3 times per year (or as necessary) and solves issues not related to the contract. Largest issues ongoing are:
    • Recruitment and Retention
    • Parking for Head Office
    • Succession Planning
    • Designation/ Hours of Work
    • Performance Management

Current Contract is in place until November, 2019

To long term Executive Members have resigned their positions, I’d like to thank Scott Lloy and Krista MacDonald for their contributions to the Group and indeed for PIPSC as a whole, they will be missed.  In addition, I’d like to thank Mike Pauley for all of his hard work and dedication over the last decade plus.  He has left big shoes to fill, but thankfully he is still there to lean on. 

Big thanks to the NBEN Executive and Stewards for all of their hard work.