Public Service Modernization Act
UNION MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Record of Decisions
Meeting: 2
Date: June 28, 2004
Attending: Management Side
Monique Boudrias, PSHRMAC (Co-Chairperson)
Karen Brown, Environment
Richard Burton, PSHRMAC
Ric Cameron, CIDA
Brent DiBartolo, TBS
Richard Tobin, NRCAN
Public Service Commission
Francine Chabot-Plante for Greg Gauld
Bargaining Agent Side
Nycole Turmel, PSAC (Co-Chairperson)
Mark Brunell (PSAC)
Steve Hindle, PIPSC
Paul Morse (IBEW)
Mark Pecek (Advisor)
Secretaries and Support
Camille Therriault-Power, Co-Secretary, PSHRMAC
Dan Butler, Co-Secretary, NJC
1. Introductions
M. Boudrias and N. Turmel, as Co-Chairpersons welcomed all participants to the second regular meeting of the Public Service Modernization Act Union Management Advisory Committee (UMAC).
2. Review of Proposed Agenda
The agenda was approved as proposed.
3. Record of Discussion – December 17, 2003
The Record of Discussion for the meeting of May 21, 2003 was approved between meetings. M. Boudrias reported that the Deputy Minister Human Resources Management Advisory Committee (DMHRM-AC) approved the proposal from UMAC that both UMAC co-chairpersons brief the DMHRM-AC on UMAC discussions and input. DMHRM-AC also agreed to continue discussions on capacity issues for both parties in undertaking joint implementation initiatives at the department and agency level.
M. Boudrias provided a further briefing on steps taken to engage the wider community of deputy ministers in PSMA implementation issues, and on plans ahead for engagement of assistant deputy ministers as well as the EX community. It was noted that deputy ministers expressed an interest in convening an organized event with bargaining agent leaders to discuss expectations and issues that may arise in working together on PSMA matters. A possible event timed to coincide with the presence in Ottawa of bargaining agent leaders for "NJC week" (the week of September 20th) will be explored.
M. Boudrias summarized DMHRM-AC discussions on early steps in the development of an approach to course design and delivery with the School of Public Service, on work respecting financial arrangements, and on identified requirements to revise or develop systems in support of PSMA implementation.
4. Consultation
Two presentations were received and discussed:
(a) Informal Conflict Management Systems (G. Gillespie and R. Momy)
(b) Essential Service Agreements (B. DiBartolo and M. Macdonald)
B. DiBartolo also briefed the committee on progress to date with respect to several other subjects before the Essential Services Agreements Working Group: two-tier bargaining, strike management, use of employer facilities, union dues withholding, exclusions and de-exclusions. Among these issues, no further joint work is expected on strike management, and little need has been identified for detailed examination of two-tier bargaining. In several areas, including essential service agreements, progress accomplished to date on guideline documents will be subject to possible change depending on the development of regulations by the Public Service Labour Relations Board. It was noted that further information is being compiled on existing practices with respect to use of employer facilities, including access to employer e-mail systems.
N. Turmel noted that the PSAC would not be participating in joint training with respect to essential service agreements.
It was agreed that draft documents on labour-management consultation committees would be distributed before the next UMAC meeting to all bargaining agents for their comment.
5. Consultation on effectiveness and communications
M. Boudrias summarized concerns about the effectiveness of UMAC consultations and about communications on PSMA implementation issues as expressed by bargaining agents at the NJC-sponsored meeting of June 2nd, and identified several possible options for addressing these concerns. D. Butler reviewed themes heard in follow-up discussions between the UMAC co-secretaries and several bargaining agent leaders on these concerns.
It was agreed that documents discussed at UMAC will subsequently be distributed to all bargaining agents, indicating changes made as a result of UMAC discussions. All bargaining agents will be given the opportunity to review and discuss these documents and forward their comments to the Bargaining Agent Side UMAC Co-chairperson. Further comments received as a result of this process will be submitted to the next UMAC meeting.
A master scheduling plan will be compiled for the next UMAC meeting to assist in identifying priorities for union-management engagement and in allocating timelines for consultations. The importance of co-ordinating UMAC consultations with other consultative initiatives (e.g., at the PSCAC) was emphasized.
UMAC members agreed that bargaining agent assignees at the HRMIS would not be tasked to assist communications with bargaining agents in any formal way, but it was understood that informal contacts would and should continue.
6. DM Sub-committee updates
Written and oral updates were provided on the work of DM sub-committees:
(a) Labour Relations and Dispute Resolution (R. Tobin)
(b) Staffing and Staffing recourse (K. Brown)
(c) Learning, Culture Change and Communications (R. Cameron)
It was agreed that a letter to deputy ministers recommending staffing activities to be undertaken immediately will be distributed to bargaining agents. As a general approach, all letters from central agencies to deputy ministers about human resources issues should be made available to the full bargaining agent side.
7. Next Steps
The next UMAC meeting is scheduled for August 13th, 9:00 – 12:00.
It was noted that a representative of the School of the Public Service will be invited to discuss the PSMA learning agenda.
Dan Butler Camille Therriault-Power
Co-Secretary Co-Secretary