Negotiations - Collective Bargaining - New Demands for the next contract

October 31, 2006

To all GSU Local 20008 members: http://www.psac-afpc.org/bargaining/documents/TB_program_of_demands_eng.pdf

The Program of Demands is a formal process by which Components of the PSAC are solicited for membership input for the next round of negotiations with Treasury Board. As most of you are aware, our Collective Agreements expire in 2007.

The PSAC intends to bring the Component Demands to the Employer before the current contracts expire.

On that note, Regional GSU Locals have been advised that we must submit our membership demands to GSU HQ by no later than November 10th if these are to be considered in this round of bargaining.

Our GSU Local 20008, Pacific Region, deadline is November the 8th, 2006. Individual Member entries have to be forwarded to HQ from the Local in a certain format, and consequently your Executive needs sufficient time in order to prepare these. We've given ourselves two days to do this.

I have included, see above, the PSAC website link where you can obtain more information about the Program and some of the Demands that have been suggested. I would strongly encourage you to read this information.

General Information:

In order to more closely focus our collective bargaining efforts, four categories have been developed to assist members; to improve on and to streamline the process; to cause the employer to be more responsive to workplace issues and concerns; and ultimately to essentially increase our success rate when we negotiate. These categories are:

Section 1: Wages - economic increases, elimination of pay zones, classification reform and more

Section 2: "Breakthrough demands" - building on previous successes, the union aims for more changes to the collective agreement never before negotiated in the federal public sector

Section 3: "Keeping Pace" demands - demands that may have been negotiated in some bargaining units that should apply to all

Section 4: "Operational" demands - demands that apply to a specific group or sub-group

Members who wish to propose a bargaining demand must do so through this Local. You can submit your demand through the Executive member who sent you this email or you can send it to your GSU President, Local 20008, Bill Pleming. Please read pages 27-29 of the Program of Demands entitled, "What makes a good bargaining demand" before you submit your input. In that way you will be more aware of the bargaining emphasis and what justification we require with your input that will support your demand.

If you have any questions, please email me or your Local Executive member.

In solidarity,

P.W. Pleming
President, Government Services Union,
Local 20008,
Public Works & Government Services Canada,
Pacific Region
#641 - 800 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2V8
phone: (604) 666-1454 Fax (604) 775-9380
Emergencies - Cell Phone: (604) 612-1317 (24/7)
bill.pleming@pwgsc.gc.ca