July 5, 2007

PSAC Wins Drug Testing Grievance

TORONTO- Random workplace drug testing is intrusive and an unreasonable exercise of management rights an arbitrator ruled on June 28. The policy grievance against the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) was launched by PSAC for Local 00004 in February 2001.

The GTAA’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy, which was developed and implemented without union input, cast a wide net and called for provocative measures such as random drug testing involving urine samples, pre-appointment testing and the imposition of discipline upon a positive test. Noting that a positive drug test does not indicate impairment, the Arbitrator also rejected employer arguments that positive tests legitimately alert the employer to increased safety risks.

Highlighting the disconnect between drug test results, impairment and safety, the Arbitrator pointed to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Meiorin and ruled that the employer could not justify the discriminatory aspects of the policy because the testing could not be shown to be reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of a work-related purpose.

The ruling follows on several years of persistent work by PSAC local union representatives supported by union staff and union legal counsel.

"This is a step forward for the rights of workers at GTAA and at every other airport across Canada. Management crossed the line with the imposition of these tests. The arbitrator’s decision sends a clear message that our members have the right to work in dignity against invasive examinations that violate their personal privacy," said Gerry Halabecki, Regional Executive Vice-president for the PSAC in Ontario.

PSAC Local 00004 represents 720 administrative, maintenance, safety and trades workers at the GTAA.

 

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News Releases

February 1, 2006 - Gomery: good report, but whistleblowing still falls short

January 4, 2006 - NISHNAWBE-ASKI Civilian Staff Ratify First Contract

December 15, 2005 - PSAC members ratify new agreements with Statistical Survey Operations

December 9, 2005 - PSAC and TAUMUN Get the Vote Out at Memorial

December 8, 2005 - Canada Revenue Agency discouraging walk-in business

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Publications

Meals allowance and kilometric rates for Treasury Board members

Need to know the current rate paid by Treasury Board for meals or the kilometric rate on authorized government business travel?

Here are the links to the Treasury Board website where these rates are updated. Don’t forget to add these links to your favourites:

Meals, incidental and accomodation allowances, effective April 1, 2004
Kilometric rate (by province), effective April 1, 2004

Issues - Hot Topics for Collective Bargaining

Here is the list of the information leaflets produced by the bargaining section of the PSAC on the major topics in collective bargaining for PSAC members. You can read these documents (PDF format) by clicking on the following links.

1. Same-sex benefits: making progress in the courts and at the negotiating table
2. A review of recent public sector settlements
3. Captive time for members at Treasury Board
4. Specific issues for the members in the regulatory, inspection and enforcement community
5. How to reduce stress, workload and work time and improve work-life balance before it's too late
6. Negotiating family care
7. Improving working conditions for term employees in the federal public sector

Trends

The new publication called Trends is designed to make economic information accessible to the staff and to members of the PSAC. To learn more about these trends and how they relate to collective bargaining, click on the following links (Acrobat PDF files) :

Volume 1 - Recent Economic, Labour Market and Wage

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The PSAC applauds the adoption of the anti-scab Bill

October 25, 2006

The PSAC applauds the adoption on October 25, in second reading, of Bill C-257, the anti-scab legislation introduced by the Bloc Québécois. Click below for more information.

PSAC Press Release

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Press Release- Fort Liard Ferry October 17th, 2005

Local UNW members have been locked out of a Government owned ferry by Rowe’s Construction in FortSimpsonsince Friday, October 14^th at 3:00 pm.

Scabs are being housed in a government owned housing compound. These are the same scabs who are taking jobs , money , and the livelihood from qualified local residents and the community.  This lockout is causing tension and hardship in this tightly knit community of 1200 people . No one in government is even responding to their complaints. The GNWT needs to take action immediately to address this situation.

Public support and support from other workers from FortSimpson to Wrigley continues to mount. In just two days, over 200 people have signed a petition in support of the ferry workers.

“The GNWT cannot claim to be neutral in this dispute when they are harbouring scabs in a government housing compound. Michael McLeod must assume his responsibilities as the Minister responsible for transportation and meet  immediately with union officials to settle this dispute” To start the process, he needs to evict those scabs from government residences". Todd Parsons, UNW President.

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Press Release - October 20, 2005

Rowe’s Construction dumps Ferry contract and abandons citizens in FortSimpsonand Wrigley

Fort Simpson, NWT – Late today the PSAC/UNW received notification through a CBC news broadcast that Rowe’s Construction is abandoning the contract to provide Ferry service across the Liard River.  They have indicated that they cannot run the Ferry during a labour dispute even through the use of scab replacement workers.

The Government has made a vague response of somehow coming up with a strategy to maintain the service citing short notice from Rowe’s to blame for their lack of preparation.  Todd Parsons, President of the Union of Northern Workers says, “If the GNWT wants the Ferry to run, all they have to do is phone me and I will send our negotiator to them now; the GNWT has in effect took over the Ferry and these workers are now, in our view, seasonal workers of the GNWT”. 

There are rumors of another entity taking the contract but Jean Francois Des Lauriers, Regional Executive Vice President of PSAC North,  warns, “If anyone thinks they can come in and take up the running of the Ferry using Rowe’s despicable labour relations, I tell them to think again; we are willing to sign an agreement that is on the table right now with them and then we will send our members back to work otherwise we will maintain our lines!  We are obligated and determined to protect the rights of our members".

Both Union Leaders cannot believe the callous disregard Rowe’s, the GNWT, and the Federal Government have shown to citizens in their efforts to resolve this dispute; the Union has decreased their demands in an attempt to resolve but to no avail.  Parsons says, “We cannot bend any further without betraying our members and we are not prepared to go there; sign a decent agreement now and we will have the Ferry running in the morning”.

For further information contact:

Jean François Des Lauriers, REVP, PSAC North @ 613-858-2367

or

Todd Parsons, President, UNW @ 867-444-3215

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Media Bulletin - From the Fort Simpson Picket Line - October 19th 2005

• Rowe's Construction refuses to meet with the Government appointed Mediator.

In an effort to end the Ferry lockout in Fort Simpson, the Federal Minister of Labour appointed a Mediator and talks were scheduled for October 19th and 20th.  On Monday morning, October 17th, the Union was informed by the Mediator that Rowe's Construction refused to attend and talks were called off.

This in spite of the fact, Owen Rowe, Owner of Rowe's Construction continued to tell the community his company would participate. 

Questions about Rowe's handling of the Ferry operation and the obvious violations of the Government contract are being raised by residents of Fort Simpson.

• Community officials raise concerns about Ferry safety.

Allegations are being raised that the Ferry is not being operated with proper safety procedures.  These allegations are being made by senior members of the community who have personally witnessed obvious violations on the Ferry.

Questions are being asked about public safety on the Government owned ship.

• Community firmly behind locked-out Ferry workers.

The community is questionning the use of scabs to run the Fort Simpson Ferry.  Not happy with the situation, community members denounce the abuse to the community Rowe's is forcing on Fort Simpson by using scabs to run the Ferry. 

People are questionning why the law allows outside workers to take local community jobs, cause division and then leave.  "It is time anti scab legislation is introduced", stated a local resident. 

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For more information contact: Todd Parsons, President, UNW Office @ 867-873-5668 or cell  @ 867-444-3215 or Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, REVP, PSAC North @ 867-873-5670 or cell @ 613-858-2367.  

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