President’s Follow Up Items - Executive Council

President’s Follow Up Items - Executive Council
December 2016

Robert Campbell - Item 5

Since the last report the follow-up items below remain:

  • ONTARIO PSTAR -  A legal challenge has been referred to PSAC Legal Section in regards to the pension problems of some of the Ontario PSTAR members. PSAC Legal has reviewed the situation, and are pursuing appropriate actions. We had dates for a hearing in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice of October 3rd and 4th, 2016. However, as of the date of writing this report, there are ongoing discussions with the respondents to get consent to certify the class action case. The PSAC is still waiting for the federal government to finalize the consent language.

  • Job Descriptions for National Office Staff -  The National Office is in the process of writing Job Descriptions for all of our staff. Most have been completed and were sent to the PSAC Classification Section for proper classification. The process is still on going.

  • Retroactive Pay Calculations from the PSAC on LWOP -  The PSAC has confirmed that they will automatically calculate and pay any retroactive pay owed to UTE members on any leave without pay since 2012, once the signed agreement is received in the PSAC Finance section. However, the PSAC cautions that it cannot advise when this will happen, given the size of the bargaining unit, and a 4-year calculation period.

  • RETURN TO CONSULTATIONS - Pursuant to the resolution passed at the September 2016 Executive Council meeting, I sent a letter to the CRA Commissioner on October 25, 2016, the same day our collective agreement was signed, advising that UTE was returning to all consultations and joint committees at all levels.

  • PHOENIX COMMITTEE - I committed during the September 2016 Presidents’ Conference that I would establish an ad hoc committee to identify phoenix issues affecting our members and to relay these issues to the CRA. Committee members are Sister Christine McLennan, Brother Alan Craig, Brother Shane O’Brien and Sister Annette Melanson. The committee had its first meeting to identify issues on November 2 and 3, 2016. Their next step is to set up a meeting with the CRA.

  • AD HOC STRUCTURE COMMITTEE - I committed during the September Presidents’ Conference to set up an ad hoc committee to revisit some of the structure issues that still plague us. Members of this committee are Brothers Jamie vanSydenborgh, Marc Brière, Bill Blair, and Sisters Gesine Campbell and Annette Melanson.  As of the writing of this report, the Committee was attempting to set up its first meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Campbell
National President