Dear Sisters & Brothers,
The Conservative government is proceeding full bore with their goal to eliminate the deficit and plans to cut as much as 10 per cent from government departments to do it.
PSAC members that are employed by Treasury Board and its agencies have protections in their collective agreements against job cuts in the federal public service. Employers must ensure that employees are treated equitably and given every opportunity to continue their careers. Your collective agreements outline your rights and options when you are an indeterminate employee facing a Work Force Adjustment situation, also known as the Employee Transition Policy for CFIA members.
We are also hearing that Treasury Board is planning an online “jobs marketplace” in an effort to bring together employees who want to leave the public service with those who want to stay to trade jobs. Employees will be able to advertise their interest in swapping and managers can post the positions they have available. We will provide updates on this initiative as they become available.
In the meantime, however, we must start to take action to ensure the WFA provision is honoured by maintaining strong locals with committees in place to manage WFA situations. Please establish WFA committees within your locals. I am sure your components will assist in organizing not only local, but regional committees as well. You may also want to establish WFA as a standing agenda item at your Union Management Consultation committee meetings.
If you would like more information about Work Force Adjustment, or need assistance establishing a WFA committee in your local, you may contact your component or respective PSAC regional office.
In Solidarity,
Robyn Benson
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies