Ottawa, June 28 2013
Carrie E. Roussin
Director General
Compensation Sector
Public Works & Government Services Canada
Subject : Modernization of Pay Administration / Pay in arrears for federal public servants
Ms. Roussin,
We wish to express in writing our clear and forceful objection to this initiative.
Collective Agreements clearly specify that full consultation around any actions that could impact the terms and conditions of employment of our members must be entered into upon the request of either party. Furthermore, the CRA and the UTE have entered into bargaining a new collective agreement and are, therefore, under a statutory freeze on all terms and conditions of our members’ employment. (Section 107 of the PSLRA). Even without that statutory freeze, however, we maintain that we must be consulted fully and meaningfully on any such change, and not simply briefed, as it is the case here.
Recouping two (2) weeks pay from the employees over the course of one year would create a financial hardship on all members. In particular, it would be an undue financial hardship to those lower wage-earning members and single-parent members. If such a great Crown liability truly does exist due to paying employees on a current basis, and we suggest it does not, then public resources would be better spent in modernizing the current pay software systems so that overpayments are processed on a more timely basis.
Notwithstanding our opinions stated above, should the Pay in Arrears Initiative go forward, we request an extension to the amount of time over which such recuperations are made from our members’ pay.
Sincerely yours,
Marc Brière
1er Vice-président national du SEI
UTE 1st National Vice-President
(613) 235-6704 Bureau/Office
(613) 882-6287 Cell.
marcbriere@ute-sei.org