September 1999

1CAD/UNDE
Labour-Management Relations Committee
Minutes of the 5th meeting held June 8 1999
Ottawa, ON

Co-Chairs:
BGen E.A. Findley, A1
Mr. B. Molsberry, UNDE VP Man/Sask

Secretary:
Ms. W. Carter, A/A1 CHRM

Members:
Col J.Y.P.D. Gosselin, A4 AE (Absent)
Col G. Morey, A7 Op Dev & Pol
Col J.M. Westrop, A1 Pers
LCol Z.T. Szypowski, A5 Compt
Mr. J. Turcq, UNDE VP Quebec
Ms. D. Graham, UNDE VP Nfld/Lab/NB

Presenters:
Col D. Read, SA VCDS
Col D.L. Wingert, DMHRR
Col R.R. Ryan, DAEBM
Maj R. Angus, DPPR 3
Ms. L. Labelle, D Air CMS 2
Mr. K. Wilson, UCS Project Team
Ms. P. McGregor, UCS Project Team
Ms. Candy Glandon, D Air CMS 3

Observers:
BGen J.M. Comptois, DGMRS
Maj L. Nardecchia, D Air FD 3
Mrs. D. Joudrey, A1 CHRWM

Introduction

1. A1 opened the meeting at 0815.

2. The previous minutes were reviewed and accepted without changes.

Outstanding Business

3. Goose Bay ASD - A5 Compt provided an overview on funding for Goose Bay ASD. He will provide a hard copy summary by e-mail to UNDE. UNDE VP Man/Sask stated that UNDE is looking for information on all military costs (i.e. SERCO costs, Goose Bay Office costs, military costs, Air Traffic control, AVPOL, contract bonuses, relocation costs, etc.)

Action: A5 Compt to provide summary to UNDE.
(Secretarial Note: A5 Compt provided information which was faxed to UNDE 15 Jun 99 at 0715 CT.)

4. LMRC Training - A/A1 CHRM advised that D Air CMS had confirmed that managers, through the local service centres, request LMRC training. UNDE feels it is imperative that this training take place as it is an integral part of the consultative process.

5. EE Forum - A1 CHRWM and UNDE VP NB/Nfld/Lab presented an overview of their meeting with DCHRPOS 2 staff held on 7 Jun 9 regarding the consultative process on Employment Systems Review. UNDE and A1 CHRWM were concerned with the lack of consultation during the initial meeting. A decision will be forthcoming from DCHRPOS 2 by 6 Jul 99.

Action: A/A1 CHRM to prepare letter to DCHRPOS requesting that consultation with UNDE and HRBMS take place.
(Secretarial Note: 6021-1 (A1 CHRWM) letter dated 25 June 1999 was sent to DCHRPOS)

6. NPF Employees - A 1 Pers provided information on NPF policy. A/A1 CHRM advised that she had not received an answer from HQ NPF staff regarding UNDE's questions. UNDE VP Man/Sask clarified that UNDE's concern was that work being done on public funds was not being cost-recovered from NPF. UNDE requested information on the accounting and tracking of NPF.

Action: A5 Compt to research the cost accounting and tracking of NPF and provide information to LMRC members.

7. LMRC Meetings - UNDE VPs advised that post strike problems existed at some air force units. UNDE VP Man/Sask advised that EAP Chairpersons were to be advisory members only at local LMRC meetings.

Action: A/A1 CHRM to prepare a letter to the Wgs advising that the strike is over and that it is time to return to healthy labour management relations.
(Secretarial Note: The composition of LMRCs should include a reasonable balance of representatives of employees and management. The Wing Commander is authorized to designate management members.)

8. Budget Overview - A5 Compt advised that there has been no change from April funding. The 2.4 M carry-over to cover collective agreement increases will be devolved to the wings and budget figures will be revised. There have been no SWE budget cuts from the HQ. Any budget cuts at the Wg level will be reflected when the Wgs report back in level 3 business plan. UNDE VP NS/NB/NFLD advised that some SERCO employees have not received retro pay.

(Secretarial Note: A/A1 CHRM has confirmed that TB has advised (thru DCCS) that retro cheques be held until successor rights issues are settled as recovery action may be required.)

9. MOS Review - Col Read provided a presentation on the MOS review. The MOS review was established to determine the optimum number of military regular force members required to meet operational commitments. The steering committee was presented with 3 options and the 4 - 1 option was approved. UNDE expressed concern with the numbers used in the Supply Chain process. Col Read confirmed that further consultation with the Supply Chain project team members was required.

10. Goose Bay ASD - Col Ryan, DAEBM, provided a presentation that included the complete costing for the Goose Bay ASD. He confirmed that the savings are based on an estimated base line figure of 44 M. The savings will likely be less than originally estimated due to contract amendments and succession rights, but DAEBM noted that the savings would still be more than the amount initially identified as acceptable in the business case. UNDE advised that the in-house bid should have been used as the base line and that socio economic costs should have been a factor to show the true cost savings.

Action: DAEBM to provide UNDE with a copy of the criteria used to establish the contract bonus and a copy of the slides to A/A1 CHRM.
(Secretarial Note: Col Ryan's presentation is enclosed.)

11. Military Pay Comparability Studies - Maj Angus, DPDR 3, provided an informative presentation on the comparability study and the different methodologies used. UNDE advised that this presentation answered their questions and requested information on which zonal rate was used or whether weighted average of public service zonal rates were used for the comparison.

Action: DPDR 3 to provide information as to which zonal rate was used or whether weighted average of public service zonal rates were used for the comparison. (Secretarial Note: DPDR 3 advised that the applicable regional rate was used and a ratio of the number of employees in each zone was factored. This information was faxed to UNDE VP Man/Sask 17 Jun 99 by A/A1 CHRM)

12. Employability Plans Update - A/A1 CHRM provided a report on the employability strategy funding for the previous FY. She advised that input from the Wgs on Employability Strategy funding for the current FY was due on 15 Jun 99. UNDE stated that indeterminate employees should be the priority for entitlement to this funding. Indeterminate employees should be identified first and then terms for the training.

(Secretarial Note: D Air CMS 2 confirmed with DCLS that Employability Strategy funding is available for all employees including terms.)

13. Designations - UNDE requested that the register of designated employees from the last round of collective bargaining be re-signed by local UNDE presidents and that copies be provided to them for the next round of collective bargaining.

Action: A/A1 CHRM to provide copy of register to UNDE.
(Secretarial Note: A/A1 CHRM confirmed that local union representatives had signed and received copies of registers in all cases except Dundurn and Moose Jaw. Units/Wings are in the process of reviewing and confirming current designation requirements for Tables 1, 2, 3 and 5. Once the designations in support of the second round of bargaining have been agreed upon at TB, the listing will be shared with UNDE.)

14. UCS - UCS Project team members, Mr. Ken Wilson and Ms. Patti McGregor, provided information on the current departmental UCS process. Ms Candy Glandon provided information on UCS in the air force. Presenters noted that the air force is doing well in meeting the UCS UNDE stated that employees require more training and expressed concern on the quality of the work descriptions because of the short time frames for the processes. UNDE VP Man/Sask questioned the quality of the work descriptions given the short time frames for the processes.

Action: D Air CMS to follow up UNDE's concern.
(Secretarial Note: It was confirmed that Mr. Wilson provided a response to the question from the previous LMRC. His e-mail response is attached.)

15. EAP Program - EAP statistics were provided to the members. A1 discussed the new military EAP, Canadian Forces Members Assistance Program (CFMAP) which has been contracted to the Employee Assistance Service of Health Canada's Occupational Health and Safety Agency.

Action: A/A1 CHRM to relay to EAP Advisory Committee that common services could possibly be shared on behalf of the defence team.
(Secretarial Note: D Air CMS raised this issue at the EAP Advisory Committee meeting held on 16 June 1999 and was advised that the sharing of EAP services had been considered, but it was decided that there would be no sharing of services at this time; however, this item would remain on the agenda and monitored in the future once the pilot CFMAP is evaluated.)

Round table discussions

16. A7 Op & Dev tabled information on the military positions within the air force.

Secretarial Note: Tabled information on military positions is enclosed.

17. A/A1 CHRM asked UNDE about union approval for IRPP. UNDE VP Man/Sask advised that as long as the IRPP took jobs away from UNDE members, the program would not be supported.

18. UNDE VP Man/Sask advised that the air force had a large number of term employees. He requested that the term employment policy be evaluated and that those positions that have been encumbered by term employees for 18 months should be made indeterminate.

(Secretarial Note: CPAO 4.18 in conjunction with the Treasury Board Long-Term Specified Period Employment Policy prescribes the DND policy on Term Employment.)

19. The next meeting will be held in Winnipeg in mid September. The meeting adjourned at 1425.

Ms. Wenda Carter
Secretary