National Executive Meeting - December 2007 - Annex 6

AIR COMMAND REPORT

  1. Since my last report we have addressed a number of issues with the Command, the first was a request for Defence Construction Canada (DCC) update on costs and also on the increase of DCC personnel at various Wings. The following was the 1 CAD response:
    “With respect to the union's concern regarding a decrease in WCE personnel resulting from DCC contracts, LCol Gergely has confirmed that they have hired almost four times as many public service term employees than additional DCC personnel. Furthermore, the MOUs are between A4 AE RA and DCC not the Wings...total costs are approx $500K/yr.”
  2. At the Nov 8, 2007 Air Command UMCC we also discussed the impact of the VCDS’ SWE Cap, and how this has restricted management from being able to identify the best options to supply a service may be indeterminate civilians, but cannot get the funding.
  3. Brother MacLennan will be advancing our concerns at the next National UMCC and I have also asked the Command to identify their concerns with the SWE Cap also.
  4. Discussion on the Level 2 negotiations, at the Division level, for the Wing ESA submissions and there was some movement on both sides which should make the Level 1 negotiations nationally a little less strenuous. Locals should be commended for there work on the Local ESA submissions.
  5. We also asked to have a report as to the on the “health” of the Health & Safety Program within Air Command: “As for the Health & Safety reports, Jeff Helps has advised that the only change from his Jul 07 correspondence is the information sent to the Wings seeking input regarding methodology on collection/completion. AFS Ctr will prepare further direction once they have had a chance to review Wing returns.”

    “With respect to the annual report, TB has directed that departments complete an annual "Effectiveness of OSH Prevention Programs in CPA" which will provide information on the status of DND's program. As NDHQ's notice of this requirement did not come until the FY had passed much of the information was not available for 2006/2007, however steps are underway to have the 2007/2008 report more accurately reflect the status.

    How we in the Air Force collect this info has yet to be determined, however the info can be present at a UMC next year. The overall report is submitted on behalf of the department by D Safe G.

    With regard to SPDET reports - a study showed that units do not make much use of them since they are not a workplace inspection tool but merely a subjective program evaluation. Action is underway to provide a more robust workplace inspection that will provided the tools to allow verification that Wings are in compliance with CLC requirements however this is a long term project due to the level of detail involved. I suspect that we will be seeking approval to proceed from the Commander early in the new year with implementation taking 2 to 3 years after approval is received.

    As a reminder while providing info to the UMC is supported it must be recognized that UMC does not have a mandate to address H&S issues which must go through the Workplace committee's or onward to the National Health and Safety Policy Committee for resolution. While not intended to shut down discussion at the UMC, only those two forums have the legal mandate to address H&S issues, as such any concerns that may arise at the UMC which cannot be resolved by the management of the Air Force (ie policy decisions) must be forwarded for action.”

Attached to this report is the copy of the Annual Activity Report correspondence sent to the Wings for the 2008 report.

It is becoming more apparent that Local / Wing LMRC’s have to be discussing the agenda items the National Executive has suggested for the last number of years. There was a template sent to all Wing managers for reporting the financial information we should be requesting locally on SWE – O&M costs, we were to be asking for Civilian – Regular Force and Reserve force numbers by – classification – rank – MOC – location etc.

Redress procedures types and numbers of grievances locally. ADR report on incidents locally how many are mil against mil – mil against Civ or Civ against Civ, and workplace evaluations done by DRC’s, following up on local contracts like local cleaning contract to see if an in-house bid would be more beneficial for the organization.

To that end I urge all locals to ensure these items are discussed at their LMRC’s, and there are issues locally that cannot be resolved at that level make sure they are in the local LMRC minutes with direction to be moved ahead to the 1 CAD UMCC.

Thank you to Brother Turcq for his participation and support at the 1 CAD UMCC.

Brian Molsberry
UNDE VP Man/Sask
UNDE Air Command OPI

Annual Activity Report

In light of the new Treasury Board requirement for OHS information in the annual HR Reporting Portal, the Steering Committee agreed, at its meeting of 17 Sep 07, to reinstate the requirement for an annual activity report, but reformatted to comply with the TB questionnaire. Consolidated Command/Group responses (based on the FY) will be due to D Safe G by the end of June each year starting in 2008.

The following questions comprise the current requirement. Those annotated with (D Safe G) indicate that D Safe G will provide the response from its own resources and that no additional input is required.

Please note that the questionnaire is based on the preceding fiscal year.

  1. The number of workplaces in the Department
    • To be interpreted as the number of Workplace OHS Committees
  2. Conditions related to the workplace and the activities of the employees on March 31, 2008 (D Safe G)
    • Number of employees in operational positions
    • Number of employees in administrative positions
    • Number of employees managing the occupational health and safety program
  3. Work Place Inspection Reports
    • Number of workplace inspections
    • Number of hazards noted
    • Number of hazards corrected
    • Number of hazards being corrected
  4. Hazardous Occurrence Investigation Reports
    • Number of hazardous occurrences investigated
    • Number requiring corrective action
    • Number corrected
    • Number being corrected
  5. Safety Audits
    • Number of safety audits conducted
    • Number of major deficiencies found
    • Number of major deficiencies corrected
    • Number of major deficiencies being corrected
  6. Injury Statistics (D Safe G)
    • Number of disabling injuries
    • Number of injuries requiring medical care
    • Number of fatalities
  7. Policy Committee (D Safe G)
    • Number of recommendations from the Policy Committee
    • Number accepted by management
  8. Training (D Safe G)
    • Number of supervisors and managers in the Department
    • Number of supervisors and managers who have received initial or refresher OHS training in the last 3 years.
  9. Other Relevant Info
    • Valid OHS Grievances (NJC Directives)
    • Valid OHS complaints (per S.127.1 of the CLC, Pt 2)
    • Valid work refusals (per S.128 of the CLC, Pt 2)
    • Directions issued by HRSDC.

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