Well to say the least the last few weeks have been interesting in regards to Collective Bargaining.  First of all the Treasury Board Tables (PA, SV, TC, EB, and FB) were asked by Treasury Board to try and come to an agreement prior to the collective agreements expiring.  All of these Tables are represented in CBSA but only the PA and FB Table exist in Sask.  My first thoughts, along with many others, were WHAT DO THEY WANT????  The employer has never wanted to agree to a new collective agreement prior to the current one expiring...........so why is this time any different.  Is it a coincidence that this request to go into expedited bargaining coincided with when we as the CIU and PSAC were just finalizing and collecting bargainingdemands..............you be the judge!!!  Did the employer think that we were that unprepared..........well SURPRISE!!!!

Anyways........the next two weeks were long and enduring for all involved in this expedited process.  They were sworn to say nothing and in complete BLACKOUT.  All that anyone knew was that there was a HUGE concession on the table and that each table was bargaining on their own, meaning that  one Table could reject without the others.  Well that is exactly what has happened.

As we now know the concession is the elimination of Severance Pay.  In my opinion........... the largest concession in the history of PSAC.  At this time I was in complete awe that anyone would even consider giving up Severance Pay or as I like to call............my future in income security!!!!  I was and am very proud of the FB Table for holding their own and saying NO to such a huge concession.  However, I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in the other Tables.  As a concession to one could very well be the building of a very slippery path for all.  Not to mention the fact that there would now be a possibility that some employees of the CBSA (those that are members of the PA, EB, and SV such as clerks, program admin, etc........) would no longer  have Severance but that the FB’s would keep their Severance.  What an excellent way for the employer to divide the PSAC membership (Sarcasm)!!!!

Because I did not know and only suspected the history of how Severance Pay came about..........I did some research on the matter.  Even though I still do not have an exact date of when it was added to the contract, I do know that is was prior to 1975.  The history I have been told is that at the time Severance was introduced it was at a time where there was no or very little money on the table as far a wage increases.........does any of this sound similar so far to today?  Anyways..........because there was no money available, it was agreed upon that Severance would be added.  To summarize.........we conceded a wage increase at the time in order to get Severance.  Let’s say for a moment the salary concession at the time was a 1% wage increase.  This means that today our Severance in worth 1% over 35 years plus inflation.  Now ask yourself............is a 1.75%, 1.5%, 2.0% wage increase over the next three years worth the loss of 35 years of 1% also known as severance pay..............I THINK NOT!!!!! 

For any of you who are close to retirement..........you understand how important Severance is.  For those of you who don’t know or don’t care what severance is.................please take the time to talk to others to find out.  This may seem like a small loss right now..............but think of it this way.............2% per year up to 30 years of service at the time that you resign or retire as a way of easing into those retirement years on a lower pension income............or think of it as a way of compensating us as public servants for not always meeting the private sector wages for similar employment.

Last but not least.........if we concede our Severance now..........what’s next our Sick Leave just like Canada Post did.  WOW..........wouldn’t that be wonderful (Sarcasm)!!

With all of this..........................CIU Saskatchewan is NOT endorsing the current tentative agreements for the PA, SV or EB Treasury Board Bargaining Tables.  As CIU Sask has PA and FB Table members.........I as President of the Branch will not support the ratification of a collective agreement that would put any CIU members at a disadvantage to others.  Let alone the CR’s and AS’s who are already severely disadvantaged by not getting their reclassifications dealt with in a timely manner.  I am strongly encouraging all members to show support for our PA Brothers and Sisters and recommend to all PA members to vote NO when you have the chance to vote on this lovely agreement which does not include Severance.

This is not just a PA issue .........this is an issue that does and will affect everyone!!!  Our Clerks and Admin Support deserve nothing less than the FB’s!!!!

I strongly recommend a NO vote for the PA tentative collective agreement.