UNDE - PSAC Convention

UNDE Resolutions to PSAC Convention

WHEREAS all directly chartered locals (DCL) and components involved with separate employers (non-PSSRA) currently have the right to disaffiliate with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC); and
WHEREAS components involved with the PSSRA do not have that same right; and
WHEREAS this discrepancy between PSSRA and non-PSSRA components and locals is not equitable and equals in effect a monopoly, which allows the bargaining agent (PSAC) to be unaccountable to the membership:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC Constitution, Section 24, sub-section 27, be amended to include: …any component, along with its membership and assets, decides to withdraw…

WHEREAS the mechanism applicable to memoranda of settlement (Regulation 15, 3.10) does not reflect the reality of negotiations; and
WHEREAS the negotiating teams are in fact responsible for concluding memoranda of settlement with the employer; and
WHEREAS this situation discredits the claims of members and bargaining tables:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC Convention amends 3.10 of Regulation 15 of PSAC Constitution, as follows:
The Alliance negotiating teams are responsible for concluding Memoranda of Settlement with the employer through the process of collective bargaining. The National President (in agreement and in accordance with the negotiating teams’ instructions) may at any time deemed appropriate, engage in direct discussions with employer representatives in an attempt to achieve a Memorandum of Settlement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC convention adopts and supports one or more resolutions aimed at having PSAC Constitution and Regulations clearly establish the independence of bargaining tables in negotiations with Treasury Board.

WHEREAS a member in good standing with the union is entitled to take part in any voting process; and
WHEREAS the PSAC amended Regulation 15 to include that all voting must take place at a general membership meeting in order to make an informed decision; and
WHEREAS it is understood that the local executive/committees transmit as much information as is possible regarding union matters by email or websites and members can research or ask for information they are lacking:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC members retain the right to vote regardless of whether it is at a general membership meeting or spread out over 2 or 3 days, in a location organized and monitored by the local executive; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC amend Regulation 15 to allow locals more flexibility in organizing meetings, and/or locations for voting, other than a general membership meeting, to allow maximum participation for members to vote; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT should the PSAC rep for that region be unavailable, the local executive can conduct the voting and fax/mail in the results/ballots to their respective regional offices before the deadline date.

WHEREAS currently the PSAC Constitution has no clear language with respect to members choosing to cancel/resign their membership in their union; and
WHEREAS members are selecting to resign their membership in an effort to perform struck labour for the employer during a labour disruption, thus circumventing union principles; and
WHEREAS members believe resigning their membership permits them the right to avoid discipline, when performing struck labour; and
WHEREAS this is in contravention of the PSAC Constitution, Section 25, Sub-section (5) (n):
BE IT RESOLVED THAT upon receipt of a legal opinion, the PSAC Constitution be amended to deal with the attempted resignation of members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all documents be written to reflect the legal decisions and the differences between members, workers and Rands.

WHEREAS to receive strategic strike pay, a maximum of 10% of the bargaining unit can go out on strike; and
WHEREAS this is not effective for smaller locals:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC add a clause for smaller separate employer locals to read 25%.

WHEREAS PSAC currently upholds Treasury Board rates to membership making claim to PSAC; and
WHEREAS this rate should be the only rate applicable to claims submitted to PSAC:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT all claims be paid out in accordance to the Treasury Board rate applicable; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT there are no exceptions to this rate.

WHEREAS more than 94% of Treasury Board members benefit from national rates of pay and less than 6% of members are subject to the discriminatory practice of regional rates of pay; and
WHEREAS the PSAC promotes the principles of equality encompassing equal pay for work of equal value; and
WHEREAS historically the collective bargaining process has not had total success in completely eliminating regional rates of pay:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC immediately undertake a review to determine what legal options are available and that these options be presented to the membership no later than six (6) months following convention; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC initiate a grievance campaign for Table 2 members to grieve the discriminatory practice of regional rates of pay; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC initiate a political action campaign to lobby the federal government to stop their discriminatory practice of regional rates of pay for Table 2 members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC establish a national steering committee comprised of two (2) representatives from the Alliance Executive Committee and one (1) grassroots representative from each component within the PSAC that are affected by regional rates of pay; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this national steering committee has a mandate to explore all options, and make recommendations pertaining to the elimination of regional rates of pay. These options may include, but not be limited to: legal, political, a national grievance campaign or any other options that may arise.

WHEREAS conciliation with the right to strike has proven to be ineffective as a bargaining tool; and
WHEREAS the employer has the right to legislate public service employees back to work; and
WHEREAS Bill C-25 will allow Treasury Board to designate whole buildings and bases; and
WHEREAS research has shown that arbitration has proven more effective than conciliation:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC adopt binding arbitration as the method of contract settlement.

WHEREAS the PSAC Constitution, Regulation 15 establishes the national strike strategy committee and their responsibility to develop an overall strategic plan; and
WHEREAS the PSAC Regional Office reps endeavour to implement the direction provided by the National SSC; and
WHEREAS bargaining units in legal strike positions are inconsistent in strike activity in regions and this causes personal hardships to our membership; and
WHEREAS strike pay is the same for all; and
WHEREAS this causes extreme discord within the members; and
WHEREAS this causes difficulty for area co-ordinators to maintain strong picket lines and sustain support for strikes:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the national strike strategy committee provide a strategy that achieves a common standard amongst all membership; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the regional reps within an office work together to provide equally implemented strategies for all members in that region.

WHEREAS the PSAC Constitution currently states designated employees must forward 25% of their wages to the union during strike activity; and
WHEREAS some designated members do not all comply with this regulation; and
WHEREAS this is in contravention of the PSAC Constitution, Section 25, Sub-Section (5); and
WHEREAS PSAC has no clearly defined direction with regards to the process for collection of fines imposed to members in regards to the 25% of their wages; and
WHEREAS PSAC has the legal and financial resources to collect these monies:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC provide a policy for the collection of these monies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC be responsible for all action (both financial and legal) for collection of these monies.

WHEREAS the PSAC Constitution currently states the responsibility to take disciplinary action against “strikebreakers” better known as “scabs” is the sole responsibility of the Local; and
WHEREAS this responsibility at local level is a hardship; and
WHEREAS this causes undue financial hardship on locals; and
WHEREAS PSAC has the legal resources to enforce the disciplinary action:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC be responsible for all action (both financial and legal) against “scabs”.

WHEREAS PSAC Regional Conventions are held in all regions; and
WHEREAS elections for the PSAC REVP are conducted at the Regional Conventions; and
WHEREAS PSAC Regional Conventions are not presently funded through the PSAC:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC fund all eligible delegates to Regional Conventions.

WHEREAS the regional structure of PSAC functions relatively well where locals are involved; and
WHEREAS the needs of members and locals are in the region; and
WHEREAS member resources are limited and members must expect that resources they entrust to the unions are managed properly; and
WHEREAS in the interest of members and the union it is essential to review how the union can improve its services and image:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC and the components review how our union could be restructured to respond better to member needs and expectations, taking all scenarios into consideration.

WHEREAS the Aboriginal community is comprised of a diverse membership; and
WHEREAS the racially visible community is comprised of a diverse membership; and
WHEREAS the Persons with Disabilities and the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered have their own fully funded conferences:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Public Service Alliance of Canada change the constitution to reflect the diversity of the Aboriginal and Racially Visible equity groups and establish two separate national conferences for these two equity groups; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s budget reflect these changes for the two national conferences and these conferences be funded at the same rate as the Pride and Access conferences.

WHEREAS currently all delegate registration forms to PSAC do not require a recommendation/authorization from Locals; and
WHEREAS Local executives should be consulted by PSAC to provide a recommendation/authorization in this regard; and
WHEREAS Locals are charged with all other decision-making within their Local:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Local Executives be charged with the authority and responsibility to provide recommendations to all conferences; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT PSAC not accept registration forms that have not been submitted with the support of their Local.

WHEREAS every PSAC member should have equal access to attend PSAC functions; and
WHEREAS PSAC members with disabilities who require attendant care while traveling to PSAC functions have individual requirements unique to their needs; and
WHEREAS the attendants who normally assist PSAC members are familiar with those requirements and can provide a level of care that ensures the safety, comfort and dignity of the members; and
WHEREAS members often require attendant care during travel to and from PSAC functions; and
WHEREAS members have been asked by PSAC to sign waivers rescinding their rights in order to have their attendant of choice attending to their care:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC develop a Policy on Attendant Care for PSAC Members With Disabilities that addresses the attendant care needs of our membership; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the policy be developed in consultation with a sufficient variety of affected members to ensure that all likely contingencies are addressed;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, concurrent with the development of the policy, PSAC investigate appropriate liability protection in order that members with disabilities can avail themselves of the provisions of the policy without being required to sign waivers rescinding their rights.

WHEREAS PSAC scholarship programs/opportunities only apply to dependant children of members in good standing; and
WHEREAS this is restrictive; and
WHEREAS this is not reflective of an inclusive Union; and
WHEREAS our C/A language 'currently' contains more inclusive language on the definition of family; and
WHEREAS this is disadvantageous toward our membership:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC scholarship programs be amended to be a more inclusive opportunity; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT PSAC scholarship program offer be expanded to include grandchildren (residing with member), legal guardian, permanent foster child or any dependant who currently resides with member.