Canadian Forces Health Services
OPI - Mary Chamberlain
REPORT OF CFHS UMCC – 13 March 2009
UNDE EVP opened the March 13, 2009 meeting with a round of introductions. The PIPSC representative, Leanne Coleman-Kamphuis, participated by teleconference. Sister Coleman-Kamphuis took a moment to speak about Sister Michele Demers, her passing and her contribution to the union and support to the members, followed by a minute of silence. UNDE EVP echoed the sentiments expressed.
Agenda. Amended to recognize UNDE EVP as Chair for the March meeting and to combine similar subject matters together.
Approval of Minutes (October 16, 2008 attached). UNDE EVP stated that the minutes had been previously approved secretarially. All agreed.
Old Business
COS Departure. Colonel Patenaude, out-going COS, stated that he was retiring effective March 27, 2009. Both UNDE and PIPSC thanked Colonel Patenaude for his almost two-years as co-chair of the UMCC and for his support of the issues raised. Everyone agreed that consulation at the corporate level has improved immensely during his tenure. And that the same would continue with Colonel Pucci.
LMCC Set Up at Bases – Combined with New Business: Update on the status of active UMCC’s for
hospital clinics. As an update, it was confirmed that clinics are continuing to establish committees. PIPSC requested that the list of committees previously prepared and shared with the UMCC members be kept up-to-date and shared. PIPSC also stated a concern that Local committees are not meeting on a regular basis and that she is not receiving minutes. The UMCC members agreed to continue with the practice that Local Committee Minutes of Meetings will be sent to the COS’ Admin Support and then they will be shared with the UMCC members.
UMCC Training – Combined with New Business: Update on training for team labor management. HR advised that the previously scheduled UMCC training for the UMCC Committee had to be postponed for various reasons. He asked that everyone confirm their availability for the coming months. UNDE EVP advised that she could not commit to the training at this time. UNDE also advised the JLP UMCC Training was being conducted for the Kingston Clinic next week and that the DND/UNDE LMRC Enhancement Training was being conducted at the Halifax Clinic at the end of March. UNDE EVP suggested that the PIPSC representative could participate at the training at the end of March as a member of the Local LMRC. It was agreed that UMCC members would look at dates for the fall.
Use of Temporary Agency Employees. Both the out-going and in-coming COS expressed their continued support to public service employees stating that the use of temporary agency employees is not encouraged except to meet surge capacity or operational requirements. UNDE EVP advised that there is a Treasury Board Policy specifically addressing the use of temporary agencies. The COS stated that the policy would be respected.
Increase in Dental Hiring – Combined with New Business: OP RESTORE Phase 2A. The Dental Clinic Representative identified that the future implementation phases 2B, 2C, and 2D of OP RESTORE hinge on funding. CFHS still relies on Calian to fill some DE-2 (Dentist) positions. And CFHS is experiencing difficulties in staffing positions particularly in Ottawa and Edmonton.
UNDE EVP identified that she had received a concern from the UNDE Local President in Moose Jaw following the sharing of the OP RESTORE numbers. The figures indicated a possible elimination of positions in the second year. UNDE was assured that OP RESTORE is not a downsizing exercise. However, the plan is to establish a standard clinic structure across the country and the number of patients will dictate the number of staff required in the clinics.
Note: Follow up information and specifics were provided to the President Local 802 via email.
New Business
Closure of a Medical Clinic. UNDE EVP advised that she had received an email from the UNDE Local President in Sault Ste Marie attempting to confirm that there was a plan to close the clinic. There is one CFHS employee there. The COS advised that there is no intent to close the clinic at the armouries and that the Staff Assistance Visit (SAV) was to address other irregularities not related to the public service worker.
Round Table
In-coming COS Colonel Pucci thanked Colonel Patenaude for setting a positive tone and approach at the UMCC and wished him well in his retirement. Colonel Pucci also expressed an interest in revisiting the UNDE National Executive.
HR Updated the committee members on the WFS situation created by the RX2000 Mental Health Project Closure (end March 2009). As requested by the unions, formal letters were not issued and all but five (5) affected employees have been deployed. One of the reasons that some of the employees cannot be placed is because they are unilingual. These employees will receive their surplus letters at the end of the month.
UNDE Identified that the DGLRC has invited UNDE to participate when Labour Relations Training is delivered at the various sites and levels of the organization, specifically to speak to the union’s role and responsibilites covered in Module 2. UNDE EVP echoed the previous comments and thanked Colonel Patenaude for his positive approach and support, wishing him well in retirement. UNDE EVP also stated that she hoped that the consultative forum experienced at the national level, would roll down to the Local committees.
PIPSC Thanked Colonel Patenaude again.
Out-going COS Thanked the PIPSC and UNDE representative for working together to improve the workplace and relations. He stated that good labour relations is a benefit to both the employer and the employees.
Next Meeting. June 15, 2009, PIPSC to chair.
In solidarity,
M.L. Chamberlain
Executive Vice President