The federal government wants to introduce a short-term disability plan, to replace the current sick leave system, with the new system to be in place by July 2016.
Any concession is a threat to our hard-earned rights and benefits and will undoubtedly set the tone for future bargaining with separate employers and those that are provincially and municipally legislated. In other words, we are all affected by concession bargaining.
To ensure our members have the facts and understand how this will impact their work and rights, PSAC Prairie Region is holding a live and interactive telephone town hall on Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
To participate, all you have to do is answer the phone when we call starting at 6:30 p.m. (AB/SK) and 7:30 p.m. (MB). If we don’t have your phone number on file, call your regional office to add your number to the call list and ensure you receive the call on April 30.
While the employer may claim that this new strategy is about employee wellness, it’s really about restricting access to leave, reducing the number of sick leave and disability claims, and contracting-out the administration of sick leave and disability insurance.
Members would see their sick leave restricted, controlled, and contracted out. They would be pushed back to work early, or forced on to long-term disability. And they would be harassed by third-party insurance providers.
We believe that there is a better way forward on sick leave.
The PSAC Prairie Region has previously hosted several telephone town halls with positive feedback from members. Past topics have included how Bill C-4 affects PSAC members in the workplace and what to expect from the Workforce Adjustment process.