[Tb-bargaining] Technical Services Bargaining Team Update

[Patrick Bragg]

Your TC bargaining Team was in Ottawa from January 28 to February 03. We
met with the Employer to table more proposals and provide further
information on other items previously submitted.

As in earlier rounds, bargaining is being coordinated between the
Treasury Board Tables, with each Table taking the lead on certain
issues. Table TC has the lead on:

    * Article 29 * Call-back Pay;
    * Article 30 * Standby;
    * Article 31 * Reporting Pay;
    * Article 34.09 * Captive Time * also to include appropriate
appendices;
    * Article 41 * Injury-on-duty Leave;
    * Article 65.07 * Acting Pay;
    * New Article * Pre-retirement Transition Leave;
    * New Article 39.09 * Sick LWOP provision for extended absence;
    * Various articles involving Compensatory Leave.

We also share the lead on Work Force Adjustment (WFA) with Table SV. We
have tabled language on all of the above demands except for WFA.

More...

We had discussions with the Employer to clarify the intent of these
proposals and provide answers to their questions. The Employer's team is
seeking further information from the departments before providing
responses on the proposals tabled to date.

It is clear, from the demands submitted for consideration in this
round, that members of the TC group are frustrated by the inadequate
classification standards being used to evaluate our work. In order to
compensate for these inadequacies, your team has presented a number of
demands for new or improved allowances including:

    * An increase in quantum for Article 62 * Transportation of
Dangerous Goods * incorporating a new section specifically for
Ammunition Techs;
    * A new Hazardous Substances Allowance for members performing NERT,
CERT, HAZMAT and RADSO duties;
    * A new Training Allowance for GT Radio Operators;
    * A new Fisheries Officer Enforcement Duties Allowance.

We are also trying for improvements for specific groups described in
the following appendices of the Collective Agreement such as:

    * App B * Fish Hatcheries;
    * App D * Search and Rescue;
    * App K * Diving Duty;
    * New appendix on Sessional Leave to continue benefits for new
members transferred into the TC group from the Translation Bureau;
    * New appendix for our members working at Percy Moore and Norway
House.

The TC Pay Study * the Terms of Reference have been agreed upon and
the consultant is now actively seeking comparative data. The Employer
has stated that the results of the study are expected by the end of
March 2008. Please note that the Fisheries Officers are now included in
this study.

Your TC team will be back for further negotiations the week of February
25th, 2008. Stayed tuned for further updates.

Your TC Team :

Carol Casey * EG * Prairie Region
Daniel Dubé * EG * Quebec Region
Peter Holland * GT * Atlantic Region
Garry Larouche * TI * Ontario Region
Darrell-Lee McKenzie * EG * BC Region
Phil Robinson * TI * BC Region
Glen Whalley * EG * National Capital Region