[Tb-bargaining] We showed them the money

[Patrick Bragg]

We showed them the money

Your PA negotiating team finished its work on our pay proposal and
spent two days, April 23 and 24, with the Treasury Board team.

Our proposal has three significant elements:

1. Adjusting our salaries to keep them in line with other federal
public sector employers

We're proposing what are known as *market adjustments* so that
salary rates in the PA unit are in line with comparable jobs in the
federal public sector * particularly the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Effective June 21, 2007, before applying an economic increase, we're
proposing that job rates (the maximum rate) for each classification,
except WPs, be increased to the job rates for comparable positions at
CRA when they were converted to their new classifications on November 1,
2007. To ensure that none of our members are left behind, we've also
asked for increases to job rates for the small number of classifications
and levels that can't be compared to CRA. These market adjustments, if
implemented, would result in increases to all pay rates.

In the case of WP positions, and two groups of PM-4 positions with
enforcement responsibilities, we're proposing adjustments based on the
results of an Enforcement Study conducted for the Union by compensation
consultants Morneau Sobeco. For WPs, we're proposing to increase all job
rates, which would result in an increase to all WP pay rates. For PM-4
wildlife officers and fishery officers with enforcement duties, we're
proposing an annual allowance, on top of the market adjustment for
PM-4s, outlined above.

2. Changes to our system of increments

Right now there are differences in the number of increments for each of
the groups in the PA bargaining unit. In order to even this out, we're
proposing that there be a job rate (the maximum rate) and two increments
for most levels in each classification. The period between increments
would in most cases be 52 weeks and the difference between most levels
in each classification would be 4%.
Deep discounts shouldn't apply to your job

We're proposing this change to stop the employer's practice of
discounting your job. We understand that some members see the increments
as a way for the employer to recognize their years of service. But think
again. The actual value of each classification is the maximum rate.
Increments are calculated downwards from that rate. In other words,
every year that you are not at your maximum rate, the employer is
devaluing your work, not recognizing it. We want to reduce the number of
years the employer can take advantage and pay you less than your job is
worth. Fewer increments mean more years at the maximum rate of pay.

3. A fair economic increase

After applying market adjustments and fixing up the increment system,
we're proposing economic increases of
4.5% - effective June 21, 2007
4.5% - effective June 21, 2008
4.5% - effective June 21, 2009

The full details of our pay proposal will be posted on the PSAC web
site.

What's next?

Your team is back in negotiations starting on May 20. In addition to
our wage proposal, we still have demands on the table. To date, we're
still waiting for the employer to respond to our outstanding
non-monetary demands. Treasury Board has indicated they want to discuss
the elements of our pay proposal at the negotiating sessions in May and
we'll be expecting their responses on our other issues as well.
Your support just keeps on coming * and it's terrific!

We can't thank you enough for the supportive letters and e-mails that
you send us. They keep us strong, no matter what the employer does *
or doesn't do * at the table.
Whenever you do something extra, like coming up with creative ideas for
our mobilizing activities or sending us messages in special ways, it
gives your team a terrific boost.

And speaking of special messages * we send a special thank you to the
members of PSAC-USGE Local 50081 in Winnipeg who took the time to send
us a package of photos of themselves and their families. They wanted to
remind us that anything we gain in negotiations has an impact not just
on our members but their families as well and they've inspired us to
work even harder.

And a big Thank You to all the members who took part in activities on
April 21 when we returned to the table.
Next day to show your support

Be a part of the activities in your area on May 21. We need you to send
a strong message to the employer on that day: you want a fair wage
increase!
We're united and we're strong!

Your PA team: Megan Adam, Ken Boone, Michele Coe, Sharon DeSousa,
Debbie Graham, Louiselle Laforest, Doug Marshall, Sylvie Pinard, Geoff
Ryan.