SUMMARY RECORD
NATIONAL RETURN TO WORK COMMITTEE

Held in the D Safe G Conference Room
3rd Floor, Lorne Building
Ottawa, Ontario
Monday, 31 May 04

Present

Introduction

1. The co-chairs welcomed the delegates to the meeting and invited them to introduce themselves. Mr. Courtney introduced Dan Dugie who will be replacing him on the Committee and then left. Before his departure, the Committee expressed its appreciation to Mr Courtney for his contribution to its activities and to RtW in general. The Committee congratulated him on his recent election as President of his Union.

Previous Summary Record

2. The Summary Record of the meeting of 5 December 2003 was accepted as written and will be entered into the National RtW Web Page of the D Safe G site at http://vcds.mil.ca/dsafeg/pubs/rtwcomm/intro_e.asp.

Status of Local Issues

3. It was reported that the outstanding issue at CFB Gagetown had been resolved. In the absence of an Air Force representative, there was no report on the outstanding issue at 3 Wing Bagotville.
Action: Mr Wilson

Amendment to RtW Manual

4. Mr. Day circulated draft amendments to para 16 of Chapter 2, and para 26 of Chapter 4 of the RtW Manual that were aimed at tightening up the RtW reporting procedures. The Committee agreed with the proposed changes and they will appear in the next revision to the Manual.
Action: Ms. MacGregor

Stress Injuries

5. Mr. Day circulated a draft CANFORGEN aimed at emphasizing that the RtW Program was not restricted to disabilities caused by physical injuries but extended to occupational illnesses, including those caused by workplace stress. Several minor amendments were proposed to the drafted text before the Committee accepted it for finalisation and release.
Action: Ms. MacGregor

Treasury Board Annual Report

6. Mr. Braham tabled a copy of the first Departmental Report to Treasury Board on the DND Civilian Employee Return to Work Program. He noted that he had not received any feedback from Treasury Board to date, but had heard that very few departments had responded to the TB direction to submit a report.

RtW Training Status

7. Mr Day reported that 16 one-day Return to Work Awareness Courses (RTWAC) had been conducted last FY and that 8 three-day Return to Work Committee Courses (RTWCC) had been held during the same period. He noted that he hoped to be able to reduce the RTWCC to two days by eliminating some extraneous material, thereby making it possible to conduct a more cost effective program in FY 04/05.

8. Mr. Champoux reported that some local unions across the country had expressed an interest in having an RTWCC and that he would be interested in joining the instructional team to provide a union presence. It was agreed that he would meet with Ms. MacGregor to work out the details.
Action: Mr Champoux/Ms. MacGregor

9. Some Union delegates expressed concern that they were not having adequate opportunity to review and/or influence the RtW training schedule. After some debate the following actions were agreed to address this issue:

Action: Mr. Day

Program Status

10. Ms. MacGregor tabled a copy of the latest Program status as provided by units across the country. A copy of the tabled report is attached. Mr. Denault noted that the report for FMF Cape Scott still did not accurately represent the existing condition despite his earlier intervention on this subject. This led to a general discussion on the accuracy and completeness of RtW reporting. It was concluded that, in general, the data pertaining to the number of RtW cases and the amount of time being spent on modified duties was being significantly under-reported, with the result that a lot of hard work and effort was going unrecognised and that the overall utility of the Program was not being appreciated.

11. A listing of RtW Committee members was tabled for the information of members. The Committee thanked Ms. MacGregor for her efforts in compiling this list, a copy of which is attached.

12. The Committee agreed to the following courses of action:

Action: All

Devolution of WCB Costs

12. Mr. Day recounted the history of the introduction of RtW into the federal government and the fact that in 1998, the payment of WCB costs was devolved from central control to operating Departments with the intention that, ultimately, they be devolved to individual managers as an incentive to reduce accidents.

13. The Committee expressed a variety of opinions, both in favour of and against the further devolution of these costs. It was decided that D Safe G staff would prepare a discussion paper to weigh the pros and cons for consideration at the next Committee meeting.
Action: Mr. Day

Any Other Business

Annual RtW Report

14. Subject to any significant dissention prior to the end of June 2004, the Committee agreed that the annual RtW report to D Safe G would be based on the FY vice the CY, and that existing policy would be amended accordingly.
Action: All

Reporting of Modified Duties on HRMS

15. Mr. Braham noted that he was looking at the technical possibility of recording days lost and days on modified duties in the year in which they occurred rather than the years in which the original accident happened. This stimulated an inconclusive discussion on the pros and cons of such a move. The subject will be raised again when more facts are available.
Action: Mr. Braham

Invitation to Enlarge Committee

16. It was suggested and agreed that the ADM (Fin CS)/CFSU(O) GSO be invited to become a member of the Committee. Secretarial Note: Mr Wentzell has been invited and has accepted the invitation.

Date of Next Meeting

17. It was agreed to meet in the Oct/Nov 04 time frame. (Secretarial Note: Monday, 25 October is suggested.)
Action: All

Adjournment

18. There being no further business, the co-chairs adjourned the meeting at 1145.

Attachments

Program Update
RtW Committee List