Collective Bargaining Report

Please refer to www.pipsc.ca for the latest bargaining news

Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
Five rounds of bargaining have taken place. Bargaining resumed September 30 to October 2. The group has conducted member mobilization workshops in preparation for its public awareness campaign in the fall.

Audit, Financial and Scientific (AFS)

Expiry Date: December 31, 2007
Mediation took place September 23 to 25, 2008. During mediation, Institute members organized "visibility events" across the country in a show of solidarity with their bargaining team. The Institute has filed a complaint with the Public Service Labour Relations Board alleging bad faith and unfair labour practices by the CRA. The next mediation session will be held November 18-20.

Audit, Commerce and Purchasing (AV)

Expiry Date: June 21, 2007
The Group has filed a complaint with the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) of bad faith bargaining by Treasury Board (TB). TB has created an artificial impasse by clinging to a ridiculous salary proposal (1.5%, 1.5%,1.2% over three years) and by refusing to respond to other proposals. After unsuccessful mediation, the employer has filed for an arbitration board. Dates have yet to be set.

Computer Systems (CS)

Expiry Date: December 21, 2007
At Treasury Board’s request, the Public Service Labour Relations Board imposed mediation, instead of immediately establishing a Public Interest Commission (PIC). The Institute objected, since the parties haven’t modified their positions on any of the remaining issues. Mediation is scheduled November 25-27.

Engineering, Architecture and Land Survey (NR)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
The NR Group filed for arbitration on May 9. Instead, the PSLRB appointed a mediator, who met with the parties on September 15 and 19 for an unproductive session. Treasury Board stated they would not be discussing pay, roll-in of the Recruitment and Retention Allowance or pay-related items (such as leave or overtime). The bargaining team has renewed its request to the PSLRB for an arbitration board. Dates have yet to be set.

Health Services (SH)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
On June 25-26, 2008, proposals were exchanged with Treasury Board. The next bargaining session will occur October 28-30.

Research (RE)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2006
The parties are moving to dispute arbitration. As soon as the arbitration panel members are appointed, hearing dates will be set. The arbitral award will be final and binding on the parties.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Scientific and Analytical (CFIA-S&A)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
The Institute has applied for arbitration. More than a year has passed since the Institute served notice to bargain. Due to the employer’s intransigence, after 11 days of bargaining and 3 days of mediation, there has been very little accomplished. The Institute’s bad faith complaint against the employer has been heard. A decision is expected in fall 2008.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Veterinary Medicine (CFIA-VM)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
Bargaining continued June 17-19 on non-monetary items. The Institute expects to table its pay proposals in the fall. Scheduled bargaining dates include: October 7-9, November 17-21, and December 9-11.

National Research Council - Research Officers/Research Council Officers (NRC-RO/RCO)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
The bargaining team has met twice this year, once in February and again in June. The team prepared contract proposals for NRC, based mainly on the questionnaire results returned by the members. Bargaining is scheduled for November 18-19, 2008.

Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
Conciliation occurred September 16, 17 and 29, 2008. Bargaining has reached an impasse.

National Film Board (NFB)

Expiry Date: June 30, 2007
Bargaining occurred on August 27 and resumed on October 9.

National Research Council - Information Services (NRC-IS)
National Research Council - Translation (NRC-TR)

Expiry Date: September 30, 2007
The IS/TR bargaining team met with the employer on September 17 and 18, 2008. Some progress was made. The bargaining team will meet with the employer again once Parliament resumes.

NAV CANADA (NAVCAN)

Expiry Date: April 30, 2008
Bargaining resumed on September 23-25. Progress has been made on a number of non-monetary issues. Bargaining will continue in late fall.

Nuclear Regulatory Group (NUREG)

Expiry Date: March 31, 2008
Bargaining occurred September 16-18, 2008. The next session is set for October 21-22.

Bargaining at a Glance

The NR Group Executive met on September 20. The Executive showed off their custom group T-shirts. From top, left to right: George Achakji, Joe Podrebarac; second row: Yves Cousineau, Luc Thibodeau, David Young; third row: Bob Willman, Geoff Kendall; ground level:Hector Ewing, Bill Spruin, Tim Kirkby, Randy Dhar, Pierre Richard, and Gary LeGassie.