PA Collective Agreement Negotiations: What You Need to Know
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents nearly 200,000 workers in the federal public service. These workers are covered by various collective agreements that govern their terms and conditions of employment. The agreements are negotiated between PSAC and the federal government, and they typically last for three to four years.
Currently, PSAC is in the process of negotiating new collective agreements for several groups of workers, including those in the Program and Administrative Services (PA) group. The PA group is one of the largest groups in the federal public service, and it includes employees who perform a wide range of administrative and program support functions.
Negotiations for the PA group began in June 2021, and they are expected to continue for several months. The negotiations are being conducted at the central bargaining table, which covers all of the groups represented by PSAC. In addition to the PA group, negotiations are also taking place for the Technical Services (TC), Education and Library Science (EB), and Operational Services (SV) groups.
So, what are some of the key issues being discussed in the PA group negotiations? Here are a few:
1. Wages: PSAC is seeking fair and reasonable wage increases that take into account the cost of living and the work being performed by PA group members. The federal government has indicated that it is committed to offering wage increases that are in line with other public sector settlements.
2. Job security: PSAC is pushing for stronger job security provisions in the collective agreement to protect members from job loss and contracting out. This is particularly important given the ongoing pandemic and its impact on the federal public service.
3. Mental health: PSAC is advocating for improved mental health support for members, including better access to mental health services and accommodations for mental health disabilities.
4. Workload: PSAC is raising concerns about workload pressures on PA group members, particularly in light of the pandemic and its impact on workloads and work-life balance.
These are just a few of the issues being discussed in the PA group negotiations. Other issues on the table include paid leave for victims of domestic violence, improvements to parental leave benefits, and better protections against workplace harassment and discrimination.
If you`re a member of the PA group, it`s important to stay informed about the progress of these negotiations. You can do this by visiting the PSAC website, attending local meetings and town halls, and following PSAC on social media.
As a professional, I hope this article has provided you with a brief overview of the PA collective agreement negotiations. Stay tuned for updates as negotiations continue in the coming months.