02 NOVEMBER 2000

Chairperson: Mr. Doug Pike, UNDE Vice President NS
Co-Chairperson: LCol B.G. Bailey, COS LFAA HQ

Members: Mr. Ian Bernard, AHRM LFAA HQ
Ms Debbie Graham, UNDE Vice President NF/LB, PEI & NB
Ms Donna Stringer, SSO Staff Relations Civilian Human Resources Service Centre (Atlantic)

Secretary: Ms Dawn Louvelle, COS Secy LFAA HQ

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
1. Chairperson's Opening Remarks. Mr. Pike opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the LMRC meeting. Mr. Bernard introduced LCol Bailey, COS LFAA and Ms Donna Stringer, SSO Staff Relations Civilian Human Resources Service Centre. Mr. Pike informed the committee that UNDE is pleased to have their concerns addressed in this forum and look forward to continuing this positive working relationship.

2. Co-Chariperson's Opening Remarks. LCol Bailey welcomed everyone to the LMRC forum and informed the committee that he is filling the COS position only until Col Hatton returns from Bosnia mid-March, and that his position in LFAA is the G3. LCol Bailey advised the committee that LCol LeLievre, G1 would be absent due to being tasked as the Army Liaison Officer for the Federal election. He wished everyone a productive meeting.

3. Review of Previous Minutes. The minutes from 24 March 2000 meeting were accepted as read.

4. STANDING ITEMS
a. Universal Classification System (UCS). Mr. Bernard updated the Committee on UCS from an Area perspective stating that within LFAA, UCS has been all consuming, the number one priority for the last few months. He stated that LFAA exercised a level of responsibility that has been recognized by Land Staff. Both employees and management have risen to the challenges and have met all taskings. Exemplary people were provided to the working groups and they performed an outstanding job. Mr. Bernard stated, as of today, the Area consisting primarily of Gagetown reached about 99% of the Model Work Description mapping process. Mr. Bernard explained that the next step after the impact analysis will be to re-work adaptive models. Ms Stringer stated that the impact analysis was briefed to the Departmental UCS Core Team (DUCT) committee yesterday. Mr. Pike advised that there are problems with UCS at the National level. Mr. Bernard advised that the Advanced Personal Notices to all employees are scheduled for mid-Feb but subject to change.

b. Alternative Service Delivery (ASD)/Most Efficient Organization (MEO).

Ms Graham stated that although it is still unclear whether or not the Supply Chain Project RforP has been signed, both UNDE and DND have been advised that there will be no formal announcement until after the Federal election.

Ms Graham provided an update of JCTC activities that included an approved grant of $35,000 that will be used to complete a skills analysis of the potentially affected members, a review of potential positions available and a final report that will identify potential job matches and required training, if necessary, to address any shortfalls that may exist. Ms Graham further explained that the initial Expression of Interest (EOI) saw interest from three consultants, however, since the identified requirements were vague, DND (LCol Leloup and Capt Lycon) and UNDE (Ms Graham and Mr. Beyer) developed the Terms of Reference. It is expected that the successful service provider will be identified by January 2001.

A discussion followed on the scarcity of civilian training funds within the area, in particular, the Employability Strategy Funds, which LCol Bailey affirmed. Ms Stringer pointed out to the committee that since the training plan would not be fully available for this year's budgets, that the funds would be more effective for next year's business plans.

Mr. Bernard thanked Ms Graham for the information provided on this update.

Mr. Pike briefed on MARLANT's proposal to CMS on SSSR. He stated that in his opinion it would probably be after Christmas before we know how CMS and CLS are going to proceed with SSSR. Discussion followed on public Works Government Services Canada's (PWGSC) proposal for facilities management within DND. Mr. Pike explained that in the view of UNDE a major problem occurred in the NCR when PWGSC took over facilities management within DND. PWGSC within six months or so surplused almost all the employees that were trades related i.e. plumbers, carpenters and electricians as they contracted out this function. LCol Bailey and Mr. Bernard could not comment on the discussions therefore, LCol Parks, Area Engineer joined the meeting to explain this situation. He advised that the only thing that is known right now is the unsolicited bids by PWGSC. He informed the committee he would have his staff look into this and report back to the LFAA COS.

c. Employment Assistance Program (EAP). Mr. Pike briefed on the EA Program and stated that the EAP Symposium held in Cornwall was attended by approximately 350 Referral Agents from across the country. Comments from the symposium reported it as excellent. This symposium was sponsored by the Department of National Defence in cooperation with Correction Services Canada, Parks Canada and the RCMP. The Unions sponsored the Meet and Greet. Mr. Pike updated on the importance of the EA Program. He stated that the statistics for FY 01 (Apr 99 - 31 Mar 00) (enclosed) show that under item 7 (The nature of the problem) work related accounted for 27% of employees seen by RA's across the country. This should be of great concern to all of us and needs to be looked at. Mr. Pike expressed the need for the EA Program and urged LFAA to continue supporting the program. Mr. Pike stressed the point that the EA Program benefits everyone - the employee, the employer and the supervisor. Ms Graham updated the board on the two new RAs for Gagetown, Ms Alma Sparling and Ms Linda Colins-McLeod who will be taking their training in November. A welcome by the committee was extended to both. Mr. Bernard advised the committee that Mr. Pike was presented with a plaque for his commitment to the EA Program. The committee congratulated Mr. Pike on this award.

d. Employment Equity. Ms Graham advised the committee that the Department of National Defence would be audited under this mandated program. She advised the committee that MARLANT is going to be conducting a survey in January, and suggested that LFAA might want to do something similar. Mr. Bernard stated that if the survey is used then it should be presented up front and personal so that employees will realize the importance of it. Ms Stringer stated that the statistics do not reflect the true nature of employment equity as some people do not self-identify, but if you do up front and personal than you can explain to people the importance of this program. Mr. Bernard advised that the audit will be Nationally driven and no official direction has been received yet.

5. LMRC Enhancement Training. Ms Graham advised the committee that this training is ready to start. She inquired as to where the applications should be going. Mr. Bernard informed Ms Graham that there was no requirement for the applications to go through LFAA. They could be facilitated through the Service Centre and be managed by Mr. Stewart, Mr. Pike and herself.

6. LFAA Parade State. Ms. Graham advised the committee that she was receiving statistics for the Gagetown local, but what they are trying to obtain is the parade state that does not fall under Gagetown. Mr. Bernard gave Ms Graham the parade states for the area and advised he would send them electronically as well. Mr. Pike asked for a definition of the acronyms used for the LFAA units. LCol Bailey explained that LFAA includes Gagetown and he explained the acronyms. (Secretarial note: copy of the parade states attached to the minutes). In reference to the grievance statistics Mr. Pike inquired if LFAA had used any mediation or AOR. Mr. Bernard explained that most of the grievances originate from Gagetown with no involvement from LFAA. Ms. Stringer explained that in Gagetown mediation and/or AOR have not been fully embraced yet, but she sees this as a good tool for resolving conflict because it deals with the issues quickly and works through it. Discussion followed on the mediation and AOR that would be incorporated for grievance procedures.

7. Round Table
a. Career Opportunities Systems (COS). Ms Graham advised the committee that this Federal Council JCTC web site has firewalls in place and the DND employees cannot access the program. She wanted to inform that UNDE would like to see these firewalls removed. LCol Bailey advised the committee that the department's version Connexions would be coming out soon and employees should have no problem accessing this. LCol Bailey said that maybe the security levels on the network is why the firewalls are in place and that a solution would be to have a stand alone computer where employees could access the site.

b. Pay Equity Interest Cheques. Mr. Bernard advised the committee that the release of the pay equity interest cheques might be later than anticipated due to a situation that has caused overpayments. Mr. Bernard stressed the point that these overpayments were not a miscalculation by the pay office but rather a reinterpretation by Treasury Board.

c. LMRC Minutes Distribution. Mr. Pike asked that UNDE's National office receive a copy of the minutes.

8. Next Meeting. The next LMRC meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 2001, once Col RA Hatton is back on the ground.

Mr. Doug Pike
Chairperson
UNDE

LCol BG Bailey
Co-Chariperson
COS LFAA HQ

Dawn Louvelle
Secretary
LFAA HQ