18 January 2007

Land Forces Central Area LMRC - Report

The UNDE/LFCA LMRC was held in Toronto on 18 January 2007. As co-chair of this meeting, I welcomed everyone back after the Festive Holidays and as there were new players/reps around the tables requested everyone to introduce themselves. Brother Simon Ferrand is now Representing PIPSC, replacing Sister Balfe. This meeting was conducted from Toronto LFC HQ, via videoconference, from Petawawa and Kingston.

The previous minutes were reviewed and clarifications were made to 2d (Links to EE website, target date is end Jan 07; & 2f re funding for civilians to attend the Aboriginal Awareness Courses were made. Capt Patterson-Hock advised that DDWB does not have as large a budget as DHRD, accordingly it is a normal practice that associated costs to be borne by the units. That the units should identify such training costs in their HR Plan. With the clarification given, the minutes were then passed.

Highlights:

ASR Update: LCol Marcella confirmed that the former 2 GS Bn had disbanded on 18 Dec 06 and the 2 Svc B has now stood up. He also confirmed that 17 positions have moved from ASUs to Pet and the SWE for these positions was also received for local hiring. The SWE is expected to be added to the Baseline. Any further moving of civilian positions to Pet is on hold because of the rapid expansion and increased support needed in Pet. The transfer of 3 mil positions from Kingston to Pet will occur in APS 07 and the SWE for these positions is expected to be in the FY 07/08 Base Budget. The HRBM Gail Fox indicated that the LFC ASR Civ Human Resources Strategy is not finalized as yet and that it isn’t anticipated that civilian positions will be negatively impacted. I raised a concern about the shortage of staffing VHE position in Northern Ontario and also requested a list of filled ASU VHE position in Northern Ontario. Currently they are extremely short staffed and it doesn’t appear that any staffing is taking place. LCol Marcella will follow up with further information at the next meeting.

LFCA EE . The Area EE Officer, Capt Patterson-Hock, provided an update on EE activities. The EE Working Group was scheduled to be held on 31 Jan – 1 Feb 07, however has now been postponed until March 07. The agenda for the meeting is attached.

She also mentioned a draft letter of the DND/CF support to Advisory Groups was signed by the DM and VCDS on 9 Jan 07 which provides direction for support for the AGs. Copy Attached. Capt Patterson-Hock received the Annual EE Workforce Analysis Data. The data at that time, hadn’t been disseminated to the units but would be out the data was broken down and would be out shortly.

Click here to download Schedule of Events

Filling of Positions: Use of Contractors: Col Erickson provided a briefing to the committee on Contracts which are outlined below. This was an issue raised at previous ALMRCs. It was suggested that for further information on the issue of contracting, that the concerns should be also be raised at the National Level Committees. The outline follows:

It was indicated that there are five types of material service contracts.

1. Health Services Support Contract (Calian):
   • these contractors are hired across Canada to provide health services in terms of clinical care to military members
   • the number of contractors has decreased across Canada from 900 to 600 approximately
   • some clinical and non-clinical positions have been staffed through the Public Service; however, the exact numbers are not known
   • there is a challenge in hiring health care practitioners in view of the Public Service salary levels
2. Experimentation & Simulation Contract (Calian):
   • these contractors provide subject matter expertise in the field as well as technical support services
   • they are mainly in Kingston
   • the numbers vary because it depends on the training requirements
   • no contract details including cost or length of contract are available
3. Training Capacity Enhancement Project (Valcom):
   • these contractors are mainly working in Gagetown
   • they are working in three business areas: driver instruction, LAV gunnery training and administrative support (Afghan speaking actors in support of Army operation tempo)
   • no contract details including cost or length of contract are available
4. Labour and Materials Contract (Canadian Base Operators):
   • LFCA directly managed/administered
   • contractors work in LFCA TC Meaford
   • long term contract with 5 year extensions (1 April/06 to 31 March/2016)
   • contract cost $125 million
5. Support Services to Armouries Contract:
   • LFCA directly managed/administered
   • contractors work in London, Toronto and Northern Ontario
   • contract for London and N. Ontario due to end on Jun/08
   • contract cost for London is $2.9 million and for N. Ontario is $550K
   • contract for Toronto ends on Aug/07 and the contract cost is $3.2 million; currently planning to extend the contract for another 3 years

I inquired how DCC fits into the picture of the contractors, and that DCC seems to be growing. I encouraged that management continue to look into hiring PS in house rather than elsewhere.

Col Erickson also provided an update on the DCCA issue that was brought to the table during the last meeting. He indicated that the staffing of the CR 05 position was ongoing and of the applicants screened in only 1 candidate passed the written however the candidate has since withdrawn from the competition. For the PG 2 process a priority person was identified.

Update on Classification

Ms Adams-Roy from Kingston provided an update and presentation to the committee on Classification issues. Copy of the presentation is attached.

The outstanding files in Ontario East are mainly from Kingston and Petawawa. However the number of outstanding files in Ontario West is higher in comparison to East as there are still a number of outstanding files from 2006. She indicated that there are currently 74 files in Ontario West and 120 classification files in Ontario East that are outside the service standard. When the question was raised on when the backlogged files were expected to be completed, Ms Adams-Roy informed the committee that they expect to be completed by Jun 07.

The Classification Presentation

I inquired on the number of Classification Officers in ON Region, and was told that in ON West there is only one accredited fill time classification officer, which is in Borden, one retired classification officer working part time in Toronto and one trainee in Trenton. During 2006, there were 6 contractors hired to provide classification services in Ontario.

Under New Business the HRBM Gail Fox discussed Collective Work Descriptions. She indicated that management has been asked to indicate the Areas’ readiness to participate in this initiative. In order to develop a project plan ADM HR Civ personnel will be meeting with L1s to identify timeframes for the preparation of CWDs for various occupational groups. Ms Adams-Roy indicated that some WDs have already been completed for some positions, and is expected to take 5-7 years to complete the WDs in the various occupational groups. Brother Santerre questioned whether other Unions other than UNDE had been consulted on this initiative - Ms Fox indicated that it had been discussed at the HR Sub-committee level . Ms Adams-Roy confirmed that PIPSC had been involved.

During the round table, Col Erickson raised the issue on the IM/IT restructure if any of the unions had received any further information on this. I had not heard anything further nor had Brother Santerre. Col Erickson will follow up for information through his chain of Command and provide and update at the next meeting.

Brother Santerre requested an update on the civilian position review exercise. Col Erickson referred to the letter that had recently been sent out from the AComd to the COs in the units. He also reaffirmed again that the Area wouldn’t hold off updating WDs because of a shortage of SWE. He also requested that if we hear or know of any cases where this situation occurs to inform him and he will follow up on it.

I mentioned to the Committee that UNDE was beginning their ESA Trg and once completed Local Executive Members would be approaching their management to begin consultation locally. Ms Lean confirmed that HROs have been briefed and are waiting for the L1 Chain of Command direction in this regard.

I also informed the committee that the National EAP Symposium would be held 19-22 Feb 07 in Gatineau and that RAs from across the Region would be attending the event. Ms Fox also provided further information on this event to the Committee on the funding which will be funded centrally and that all EAP Chairs and RAs would receive a personal invitation to attend with their registration instructions.

It was an excellent, informative, interactive meeting, and since there were no further points brought forward the meeting was adjourned and the next meeting is scheduled for the 16 April 2007.

Debra Nadeau
UNDE VP Ontario