A conference for members working for the Federal Government with Transport Canada and the DFO will be held in November 2001, in Ottawa. The purpose of this conference is to facilitate a dialogue between Treasury Board locals.
For our perspective, the conference is an essential first step in developing a national framework through which UCTE Treasury Board local can address national issues that have an impact in their day-to-day dealing with their employer without diminishing their Local rights and authority.
Delegates will develop practical and effective solutions to the many problems faced by UCTE members who work for Treasury Board. Information regarding this very important conference will be forthcoming.

UCTE members from across the country gathered in Ottawa, May 11-13, 2000, to prepare for the upcoming round of negotiations with NAV Canada. The Bargaining Committee reviewed all the bargaining proposals sent in by members, developed priorities, and selected a negotiations Team. The team is comprised of the following members: Bernadette Allen-LeBlanc, Trevor McClelland, David Rife, Kathleen Charlebois and Cathy Summers.

UCTE members working on the Sault Ste Marie, Rideau and Chambly canals and on the Trent-Severn Waterway have ratified a MOU with their new employer, extending their current collective agreements with Treasury Board until their first contract with the Agency has been negotiated. For further details on the deal, click the Communications Tab on the main menu to access our link to the PSAC press release.

The PSAC negotiating team finally received Nav Canada's long awaited response to one of its top priority demands for this round of bargaining.
On June 20, shortly after receiving it, the team held a conference call to review and discuss it.
The team members were unanimous in expressing their extreme dissatisfaction and disappointment with this response from Nav Canada on this very important issue. As a result the team concluded that we are at a significant impasse and requested that the negotiator apply to the Minister of Labour to request the appointment of a Federal Conciliation Officer.
As soon as one has been appointed, conciliation talks can be scheduled, which will likely be in early September.

The union's negotiating team has also requested that the PSAC and UCTE start developing and planning local, national and regional strategies to assist in membership awareness and mobilization for September and October.

Following the certification by the Canada Industrial Relations Board on April 17, bargaining is under way for PSAC/UCTE members working for the Gander International Airport Authority. The certification of this bargaining unit under the Canada Labour Code is the result of the federal government devolving this airport to a local airport authority. Notice to Bargain was submitted April 24 to the Gander Airport Authority.
The Input Call has been forwarded to the PSAC's Union of Canadian Transportation Employees to solicit bargaining proposals from the Local.

"PSAC members at the Halifax International Airport have succeeded in their attempts to reach a first collective agreement with their employer that they can be truly proud of," said Tony White, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, Atlantic, when the parties reached the agreement at 5 a.m. on May 6.
"And, this success is due to the solidarity of the workers on strike and the support of the essential workers. In addition to the essential workers providing their required services, they maintained their presence on the picket line during their off-duty hours and contributed significantly from their pay to the strike fund so that the strikers could receive maximum strike benefits," adds White.
The picket lines came down on May 9 and the workers, in a march of solidarity to prove to the employer that they will not be broken, returned to work together at noon on May 10.
The PSAC negotiating team was commended on achieving the maternity/parental leave provisions that had recently been negotiated for PSAC members employed by Treasury Board.
Mike Wing, national president of the PSAC's Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), said another breakthrough made by the parties is the inclusion of the provisions of Job Security. "This was one of the main issues that initiated the strike and we are pleased that this agreement provides the necessary protection for our members," he added.
The four-year collective agreement, which will expire January 31, 2004, provides for:
Job Security - management will act fairly, reasonably and in good faith and without discrimination when dealing with the process of job security. The employer will make every effort to ensure any reductions will be accomplished through attrition and to avoid the necessity of any employee having to face a notice of layoff. In order to do this the Airport Authority must give 180 days advance notice of any proposed reductions, meet and discuss with the union its reasons for such a proposal and then commence negotiations between the parties for a resolution that will ensure that no person is laid off.
As of February 1, 2000, Market Adjustments, either on-scale or off-scale for everyone, of no less than a minimum of 2% and a maximum of 17%. A 2% off-scale adjustment will be paid annually similar to the terminable allowances that some other bargaining units have received on an annual basis.
Effective February 1, 2000, a 6% economic increase for all workers.
Effective February 1, 2001, 2002, 2003, a 3% on-scale economic increase for all workers.
With the Market Adjustments, workers will receive increases of between 17% and 34% over the life of the agreement (slightly higher when compounded).
The reclassification of General Labour and Trades members in the VHE sub-group (mechanics and mechanical supervisors) from Level 9 to 10, and from Level 10 to 11.
Acting pay to be paid from the first full working day or shift for all workers except Firefighters who will receive acting pay from the first hour. · Two additional sick leave days per year for shift workers.
Among other improvements, extensive health and safety provisions and whistleblowing protection.

Cathy Smith, president of UCTE Local 80829 and member of the PSAC negotiating team, said this is truly a "Made in Halifax" agreement with the inclusion of the groundbreaking provisions on job security and maternity/parental leave provisions.

On Easter Sunday, a day when striking PSAC members at the Halifax International Airport had taken down their picket lines, striking workers, their families, friends and supporters gathered at the airport to send a message of support for the protesters at the People's Summit in Quebec with Federal New Democratic Party Leader Alexa McDonough. In a show of solidarity, Alexa presented PSAC/UCTE Local President Cathy Smith with a tin of homemade hotcakes - a tradition in Nova Scotia.
PSAC members working at the Halifax International Airport have been on strike since 5:00 am, Thursday, April 12, following a breakdown in negotiations on April 8th. The main issues in dispute include job security, wages and duration of the agreement. Locals are encouraged to show their support and solidarity for these workers who are attempting to achieve a first collective agreement since the airport was privatized. Financial contributions should be made payable to "UCTE Local 80829 Strike Fund" and sent to: Janet Ingraham, Treasurer, Site 8, Box 6, 149 Mader Street, Lantz, NS B0N 1R0.
In addition, members, Locals/Branches, and Component officers are urged not to use Halifax Airport during this labour dispute.

A new four-year tentative agreement was reached February 28 on behalf of PSAC members at the Ottawa International Airport with the assistance of a conciliation officer. The agreement, which if ratified, will expire June 30, 2004, provides for economic increases of 3.5% in the first year and 3% in each of the following three years. The CS members receive an additional increment with the two bottom ones being dropped and the FIs will receive a 3.45% increase through harmonizing their hours of work. For the GL-MDOs and GL-VHEs there is provision for a 75 cents per hour increase in the first year and an additional 75 cents per hour increase in the second year. For the remaining members in the trades field there are increases of 50 cents per hour in year one and an additional 50 cents per hour in year three. The overall increases provided for in the tentative agreement range from 13.1% to 24.8%.
For the seasonal workers there is provision for a $400 bonus and a subsequent 5% employer pension contribution.

Conciliation Officer Myrray Keans will, from February 5 to 9, attempt to settle the outstanding issued for PSAC/UCTE members at the Halifax Airport Authority. The PSAC is negotiating a first collective agreement for these members since the airport was been privatized.

The four-year tentative agreement reached December 19 on behalf of PSAC members at the Atlantic Pilotage Authority in Saint John and Halifax was ratified in Saint John on January 2 and in Halifax on January 3 and 4.
The new agreement provides for:
Deck Hands: salary increases that will see their salary rise to $35,000 from $28,531 by the third year of the four-year contract. In addition, they will receive a signing bonus of $2,000.
Dispatchers: the Memorandum of Agreement negotiated in 1999 outlining their salary increases, has been rolled into the collective agreement. However, in addition to these increases the Dispatchers will receive two additional $500 steps, one in November 2000 and a further step in November 2001. These workers will also receive a $1,000 signing bonus.
The agreement also includes improvements in Clothing Allowances and Clothing and Personal Effects Loss at Sea; Religious Holy Days; and, the introduction of the union to new employees on their first day of work.
A breakthrough at the negotiating table was the new Management Rights clause which ensures that the rights in the collective agreement and those retained by management shall be exercised reasonably, fairly and in good faith.
The new agreement was implemented upon ratification. The formal signing will take place in early February.