Getting ready: CEIU holds first bargaining conference

With bargaining sessions for the PA group slated for February and March, the CEIU kicked off the first in a series of conferences aimed at informing and mobilizing members. The union is seeking solid improvements to the collective agreement while at the same time facing demands for contract concessions from the Treasury Board.

“Work force adjustment (job security), hours of work and severance pay—these are just a few of the areas where the employer wants to claw back gains made in previous rounds of bargaining” said CEIU National President Jeannette Meunier-McKay, “and we have to engage members effectively around these issues.” The Nova Scotia bargaining conference focused on methods for mobilizing members and reviewed the new rules on Essential Service Agreements (formerly known as “designations”).

On the issue of hours of work, the CEIU President drew special attention to Service Canada: “The employer told our bargaining team they would be coming to the table with demands around core hours of work at Service Canada. The employer is always after ‘flexibility’ and this translates to a lower quality of family life for many of our members.” But the concern over hours of work is not restricted to Service Canada, according to Meunier-McKay, “At CIC, management has been looking at extending operating hours at case processing centres such as Vegreville. We need to take a stand against these plans.”

CEIU members have demonstrated support for their PA bargaining team over the last eight months and will have more opportunities in the days ahead. Members can boost the profile of negotiations by wearing bargaining buttons and bringing a PA team member to speak at meetings of their local union.

The PA bargaining team meets Treasury Board February 5-8 and March 4-7.