The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) joins all federal public service unions in demanding that the Trudeau government repeal the provisions of Bills C-59 and C-4, passed by the previous government, which unfairly altered the collective bargaining process in the federal public sector.
This request was communicated to Treasury Board President Scott Brison today, just as several employee groups are headed back to the collective bargaining table. Bargaining sessions for the EC group and TR group, both represented by CAPE, are scheduled to resume on March 7 and 15 respectively.
Last week, the government of Canada informed public service unions that it plans to repeal the provisions of Division 20 of Bill C-59 which would allow the government to bypass the bargaining table and impose a sick leave and short term disability plan of its choice. This announcement was well received by CAPE, who, together with the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, chose to place their joint constitutional challenge to C-59 on hold until the government makes good on its promise.
The government must repeal the provisions of C-4 affecting collective bargaining
But the government was less assertive regarding the provisions of Bill C-4, also passed by the previous government, which brought about unfair changes to the collective bargaining process in the federal public service. Unions fought against the changes throughout the legislative process. With collective bargaining about to resume for several tables of other large unions, CAPE believes the government can make a gesture of good faith by committing to repeal the provisions of C-4 affecting collective bargaining.
“We commend the government on its intention to repeal the troublesome parts of C-59 and welcome the move with great relief. But, we still feel that C-4 posts a real threat to fair and free collective bargaining,” said CAPE President Emmanuelle Tremblay.
“The government’s position is that it wants to review these provisions in consultation with unions. That simply isn’t enough; we need to return collective bargaining back to the way it was before the Conservatives tilted the scales in their favour.”
Bill C-4, which received Royal Assent in December 2013, changed several aspects of the collective bargaining process in the public service. Specifically, it gave the government unbridled authority to designate essential positions. It also eliminated the public sector compensation analysis and research functions, which had previously allowed the parties at the bargaining table to base wage offers and demands on sound evidence and facts, and took the arbitration route at the union’s request off the table. Lastly, C-4 changed the economic factors that could be considered by a Public Interest Commission or arbitration board, placing the employer’s interests ahead of its employees’, thereby tipping the scales shamelessly in the employer’s favour.
Who are CAPE members?
CAPE represents 13,000 federal public servants whose work informs sound policymaking and assures the equal status of both official languages in government affairs. These include, among others, economists, statisticians, social science employees, translators, interpreters, terminologists, analysts and research assistants.
