What's New...

EC Conversion
September 10, 2010
CAPE’s policy grievance alleging violation by the employer of the provisions of article 27.07 was heard September 9 by Ms. Michele A. Pineau, Vice-Chairperson of the Public Service Labour Relations Board.

Memorandum: Call for Volunteers - Collective Bargaining - FIP
September 2, 2010
CAPE is seeking your participation in the upcoming bargaining process for the renewal of the Financial Incentive Plan (FIP).

A letter from the President of CAPE, Mr. Claude Poirier,
sent to Members of Parliament and the Senate on the matter of the census.
August 6, 2010
Over the course of the past several weeks, CAPE has made its concerns regarding the Conservative government’s decision to suspend the mandatory long census questionnaire known. As the bargaining agent representing over 2,000 employees at Statistics Canada, including statisticians and economists, as well as another 10,000 professional federal public service employees who, in the commission of their duties and responsibilities often rely on the integrity of the information generated by the Canadian Census, we are gravely concerned with the impact this decision will have on the ability of our members to serve their employer and the Canadian public.

Message from the President
August 5, 2010
The long-form census debate, whatever the outcome is, only proves that this government has no respect for the great competence, knowledge and professionalism of its public servants. You know that, I know that and, thanks to this manufactured crisis, the Canadian Public is starting to realize that.

The Canadian Association of Professional Employees
Thanks Former Chief Statistician Munir A. Sheikh
July 22, 2010
The Canadian Association of Professional Employees would like to recognize the enormous sacrifice of Dr. Sheikh, his integrity and professionalism.

Call for Volunteers: Collective Bargaining
July 22, 2010
CAPE is seeking your participation in the upcoming collective bargaining process.

The Census and Minister Clement
July 8, 2010
CAPE is growing increasingly concerned with the basis on which Conservative government decisions are being made. Earlier in the year, CAPE demonstrated that arguments used by the Conservative government to attack public service pensions were spurious and based on pseudo science. Now Minister Clement, on behalf of his colleagues in government, seems to be interfering in the work of Statistics Canada.

Message from the President
July 8, 2010
Dear colleagues,

As summer begins, the time has come to assess the general atmosphere of our relations with the employer. What should we think of an employer who can simultaneously negotiate and legislate, consult and mandate, deliberate and impose? Previous governments have almost always successfully navigated these troubled waters without really abusing their power. There have been a few exceptions, but these were perhaps justified. Now we are facing a situation where the abuse is growing.

CAPE President Claude Poirier Appointed to the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee
June 23, 2010
On June 22, Treasury Board President the Honourable Stockwell Day announced the appointment of CAPE President Claude Poirier to the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee.

Dental Care Plan for Retired Federal Public Service Employees Will Cost Participants Between 25 and 32 Percent More
June 11, 2010
Last week the Harper government quietly announced that beginning October 1, 2010, the cost of the Dental Care Plan will increase for retired federal public service employees.

Education and Mobilization Committee June 17 Event
June 10, 2010
6:00 p.m. Thursday June 17, at CAPE's offices
4th floor, 100 Queen Street corner of Metcalfe Street

EC Vacant positions on National Executive Committee
June 9, 2010
The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) National Executive Committee has two EC vacancies and is seeking interested members to fill the positions. Any member of the EC group may apply for these positions.

Public Service Modernization Review - CAPE Gives it a D
June 9, 2010
In 2003, the federal government moved through Parliament the Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA). Seven years later, it has asked interested parties including bargaining agents, to provide it with feedback regarding the consequent changes to labour relations and to the staffing regime.

June 10 Event Cancellation
June 2, 2010
CAPE’s Education and Mobilization Committee event “The True Meaning of Fiscal Restraint”, scheduled for June 10, has been postponed.

Official Call for Resolutions
June 2, 2010
This is an official call for resolutions to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting. Subject to the By-Laws, the Elections and Resolutions Committee shall organize and oversee all election and voting processes, with the exception of the ratification of tentative agreements. Members of the Elections and Resolutions Committee shall not divulge their opinion on a resolution.

CAPE Communications Survey
June 2, 2010
In order to develop a long range work plan for CAPE communications that would be responsive to the needs of CAPE Locals and membership, the CAPE Communications Committee distributed a survey to all members of the National Executive Committee, and to all CAPE Local’s Executive Members.

May 31st event – Poster
May 20, 2010
Please post or distribute this invitation in your work place and encourage your colleagues to attend the event. The agenda will be sent to participants shortly.

The Pension Appeal
May 19, 2010
Federal government unions and representative associations (plaintiffs) were back in court on April 19 to pursue the issue of the 30 billion dollar pension fund grab.

Memorandum
To : Local Leaders and NEC Members
Subject: Evening Sessions for CAPE Members
From: CAPE President Claude Poirier
May 18, 2010
CAPE’s Education and Mobilization Committee and I are writing to you in order to invite you to a series of meetings and to ask for your assistance. The committee has organized three events for this spring to inform members and to get feedback from members on issues that are expected to be the object of the next federal budget. These issues are of importance to CAPE members, including pension, remuneration, and job security.

EC Conversion
April 22, 2010
The Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) sets a hearing date of CAPE’s policy grievance alleging violation of article 27.07 (refusal to negotiate).

Public Service Health Care Plan - Frequently Asked Questions
April 2010
April 21 2010
A National Joint Council Document

The President of CAPE on Parliament Hill and in the Media:
the 2010 Budget
April 15, 2010
The President of CAPE, Claude Poirier, was invited to appear before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates to speak on the matter of the freeze on government budget envelopes and government operations.

Training Schedule – Spring 2010
March 25, 2010
The following is the spring training schedule for CAPE. The following training will be conducted at the national office, starting each day at 8:30 a.m.

March 11 Special General Meeting
Budget 2010
March 12, 2010
CAPE members met last night at a very productive Special General Meeting to discuss the implications of the 2010 federal government budget.

The 2010 Budget – Canada’s Economic Action Plan
March 5, 2010
CAPE President Claude Poirier, past President Bill Krause, Acting Executive Director Jean Ouellette, Research Officer Hélène Paris and legal counsel Peter Engelmann convened on March 4 to analyse the details of the 2010 budget as it became available. Hélène Paris, who attended the budget lock-up, helped guide the group to the more salient aspects of the proposed budget as it relates to the public service.

What You Need to Know about the Pension Issue – Qs and As
March 3, 2010
The CAPE Mobilization Committee has developed a Qs and As document in response to the questions and concerns brought to their attention by the membership.

Pension Appeal to be Heard in April
March 3, 2010
In November of 2007, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released its decision in the $ 30 B pension surplus trial. The case involves three court challenges by the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, PIPSC, PSAC, the Armed Forces Pensioners'/Annuitants' Association of Canada and RCMP employee associations to pension legislation passed by the government in 1999 (Bill C-78). The decision dismissed the actions.

All-day session for Local Leadership and NEC members
on the ABC's of the pension issue a resounding success
March 1, 2010
On Saturday, February 27, CAPE held an all day session with members of the Local Leadership and of the National Executive Committee to discuss the pension issue. 25 members of the Local Leadership were in attendance, as well as 4 invited panelists.

Post-budget Special General Meeting
February 24, 2010
March 11, 2010
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ottawa Marriott Hotel
100 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the impacts of the March 4th budget on CAPE members and on the federal public service.

CAPE in the Media on the Pensions Issue
February 23, 2010
The President of CAPE, Claude Poirier, gave an interview on Monday to Paul Gaboury, from Le Droit newspaper.

On-line Petition calls for protecting our pension plans and retirement security
February 20, 2010
The Public Service Alliance of Canada has created an on-line petition, and has invited all other federal government bargaining agents and representative organizations to make the petition available to their respective members.

CAPE Mobilization Committee
February 20, 2010
CAPE’s mobilization Committee met on Wednesday, February 17, to further clarify and define the Mobilization Action Plan. Printed materials for distribution to the membership will be prepared in the coming days, and CAPE will be producing other tools to enhance our visibility and get our message out to the public that any attack on our pensions in order to cut the deficit is completely unacceptable.

The Financial Incentives Plan has been renewed for one year
February 19, 2010
CAPE, the Translation Bureau, and the Treasury Board came to an agreement to renew the Financial Incentives Plan for a one-year period, until March 31, 2011, with several minor technical amendments that do not change the Plan in any way.

CAPE’s Analysis of the C.D. Howe Institute Report
A Balanced Perspective on Fair-Value Pension Accounting
February 18, 2010
It is CAPE’s opinion that the C.D. Howe Institute’s study is misleading, ignores important facts and is based on incorrect premises as to the continued existence of the plan. We have prepared an analysis, entitled A Balanced Perspective on Fair-Value Pension Accounting

CAPE Pension Mobilization Update
February 5, 2010
CAPE’s National Executive has taken its own members’ concerns into hand, and has issued a call for volunteers for participation on the newly conceived CAPE Mobilization Committee.

CAPE National Executive Committee Adopts Motion to Mobilize the Membership to Protect Pensions
January 29, 2010
At its January 27 meeting, the members of the National Executive Committee adopted a motion in principle, which was submitted by members of Local 514 – Human Resources and Skills Development, National Capital Region. This motion engages CAPE in a campaign to mobilize its members concerning the Harper government’s anticipated attack on the pubic service and more specifically the pension plan of its members.

Are our pensions in danger? Canadians have the right to know the truth!
A message from CAPE President Claude Poirier
January 28, 2010
For over six months, rumours have been swirling about the public service pension plan. Clearly politicians make a habit of targeting public service employees to garner support from the general public.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE
January 19, 2010
CAPE has numerous members with close ties with Haiti, some of them are your friends or colleagues, and we all know someone who has family or friends there. We want to tell them that our spirit and our prayers are with them in these difficult times.

New Year Message
January 6, 2010
At the beginning of this new year, and on behalf of myself and the entire organization, I would like to send you our best wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity.