News

The three largest unions representing federal public service workers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) and the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) condemned Bill C-59, the omnibus 2015 Budget Implementation Act, in their presentations this week before the Senate and House standing committees on finance.

Canada's 17 federal public service unions, including CAPE, met earlier this week to decide their next move in response to the tabling of Division 20 of Bill C-59, the Budget Implementation Act (BIA), which gives the government the authority to unilaterally amend the sick leave provisions of the collective agreements covering employees of the core public service.

In his letter of May 6 to CAPE President Emmanuelle Tremblay, New Democratic Party of Canada Leader Tom Mulcair stated that an NDP government would repeal Bill C-525 on union representation and Bill C-377 concerning the “transparency” of labour organizations.

With the filing of the omnibus Budget Implementation Bill on May 7, the Conservative government signals the end of the negotiations in the federal public service and contravenes the recent Supreme Court decision on the right to free collective bargaining.

Federal public service unions are united in their opposition to the Conservative government's plan to unilaterally eliminate the existing sick leave provisions in their collective agreements.

Liberal Party of Canada leader Justin Trudeau, in a letter to CAPE President Emmanuelle Tremblay, informed the Association that his party, if it were to form the next government, would scrap Bill C-377 on the “transparency” of labour organizations and repeal Bill C‑525 on union representation.

The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) believes that the federal government’s proposed Anti-terrorism Act, 2015 (Bill C-51), in its present form, could lead authorities to suppress demonstrations and activities protesting government policies, thereby restricting the freedom of expression rights of Canadians.

CAPE welcomes with great interest the announcement that the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Treasury Board have agreed to establish a joint task force on mental health in the workplace.

In consultation with the EC and TR bargaining committees CAPE has proceeded with interim measures to replace its negotiator who will be leaving the Association on March 17.

CAPE is pleased with the Supreme Court of Canada’s January 30 decision recognizing that the right to strike is an essential part of a meaningful collective bargaining process. The Court ruling means this right is now protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights.