Notices:
- I've heard through the grapevine that any public servant positions in the RCMP detachments are not being looked at for layoff? Is this correct?
Generally, all areas of the public service are being impacted by the cuts to the public service, but for more information on your specific department, consult with your component.
- How do the notices go out? Are they mailed to your home, or given to you at work?
Generally, employees will receive them at work. If they are away from the workplace, they may be sent by mail to their home address, or by email. It may differ, depending on the department or agency.
- How soon will employees know if they are affected?
When a deputy head decides that the services of one or more indeterminate employees will no longer be required beyond a specified date because of a lack of work, the discontinuance of a function, a relocation in which the employee does not wish to participate or an alternative delivery initiative, they must declare a WFA situation. They must first advise the union, two days in advance of giving notice to employees.
- Are the notices going to be based on seniority?
Seniority is not a factor in terms of providing notice to affected employees under the workforce adjustment appendix. Please consult your collective agreement for the provisions that are applicable to your agency.
- I've heard that unions are informed 48 hours before work place adjustment. This means that the unions are informed at the national level, but sometimes this does not transfer to the local level. How can we change that?
The notice is provided to the President of the PSAC and the president of the applicable component. The notice is to allow the union to prepare for the upcoming WFA situation. The component leadership may then share that information with local representatives, but please contact your component for more information.
- Is there a deadline that they have to have the notices sent out by?
There is no specific deadline, but departments must inform the union and employees as soon as they know they are in a WFA situation.
- What is the total number of total cuts? How long until the letters are all sent?
The government has indicated that 19,200 jobs will be cut due to the 2012 Budget. In addition, approximately 16,000 additional jobs will be cut due to previous strategic reviews and budget freezes. The government has not been transparent about how these cuts will take place, or exactly when.
For more information about the workforce adjustment process, see PSAC's "Workforce Adjustment: You have rights and options under your collective agreement" page.