CF HEALTH SERVICES UMCC
MEETING OF DECEMBER 16, 2013
UNDE EVP/OPI CFHS REPORT
http://www.forces.gc.ca/health-sante/default-eng.asp
http://www.forces.gc.ca/health-sante/default-fra.asp
| Mary Chamberlain, UNDE EVP, and Col Richard Pucci, COS, called the meeting to order; Capt(N) Young, Director of Health Services Delivery (D HS Del) and LCol Picard, 1 Dental Unit (1 DU); Brother Rick Smith, PIPSC, and Mr Marc Watson, who accompanied the new HR Director Danielle Villemaire, were also in attendance.
Col Pucci stated that he was happy to be back at the UMCC table as he had enjoyed his previous time working with the unions. Adoption of the September 23, 2013 minutes of meeting was postponed pending the unions’ review and acceptance. |
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| Old Business | |||
| Professional Development. HR advised that the draft policy has been sent to corporate learning for comment. Following their review the draft will be shared with the unions. UNDE EVP asked for a progress report by end-January 2014 as this item has been going on for some time. PIPSC identified that the military have a professional development policy that could be used as a reference. | Open | ||
| Immunization. The committee briefly discussed the briefing note provided by D Safe G and agreed that there are still many outstanding issues. The COS offered to take the lead on this item in hopes that this matter can be finally answered and closed.
PIPSC advised that one employee was denied immunizations for a tasking, they had to greive to have their request respected. |
Open | ||
| Staffing Issues. UNDE EVP raised the two staffing issues (Moose Jaw and Gagetown) that were previously discussed at the September 2013 meeting acknowledging that the current COS inherited the concern. The unions’ position is that any career advancement opportunities should be given to existing staff. In the case of Gagetown, an employee on LWOP with prioirity status could be hired to fill the vacated military position vice using Calian. The committee was reminded of the FTE restrictions. The COS committed to follow up with 1 Dental Unit. | Open | ||
| Redress of Grievance Policy (CFHS 3100-34). Missed, an update has been requested secretarially. | Open | ||
| New Businss | |||
| Administration of Sick Leave. UNDE EVP stated that although management has the right to manage, they do not have the right to unilaterally deny an advance of sick leave credits to every employee, nor do they have the right to request a doctor’s certificate from every employee when an employee has depleted their sick leave entitlements.
UNDE does not know who the Clinic Managers are receiving their advice from, but it is bad advice and consistently bad across the country. Essentially CFHS is forcing its employees to decide if they can afford to be sick because employees who have depleted their annual sick leave entitlements are forced to take LWOP and, because they are forced to take LWOP, they must also pay to provide medical certification. PIPSC stated that they have had to respond to the same concerns. The unions requested that the collective agreement rights as they pertain to sick leave be respected and that individual issues be dealt with on an individual basis. (PA Article 35.04, SV Article 36.04, TC Article 39.04). UNDE EVP reminded the COS that HR gives advice but that the employer representative has the right to manage the workplace. The COS committed to reminding Clinic Managers about the collective agreement rights of employees as they pertain to the administration of sick leave. The committee also discussed the employer’s options as they pertain to concerns surrounding an employee’s use of sick leave; all agreed that the employer has the right to request a Health Canada assessment. |
Open | ||
| Professional Dues Reimbursement. PIPSC raised the issue earlier in an email; since then one Local matter had been resolved through a grievance. The committee was reminded that the collective agreements give employees the right to be reimbursed, but a mechanism has to be put in place. COS stated that the Surgeon General has signed the letter, they should not be any further issues. | Closed | ||
| Hours of Work. UNDE EVP stated that it has been brought to her attention that some employees are being asked to combine their coffee breaks with their lunch break to make up an hour for lunch.
UNDE EVP reminded the committee that the 2 x 15 minute coffee breaks are paid time whereas the one hour or half hour (depending on individual arrangements) is not paid time. (PA Article 25.06, SV HS Specific, TC Article 25.04). UNDE EVP also stated that it will be difficult for the employer to argue “operational requirements” when they have just cut 100+ positions from the workforce. The COS agreed and committed to sending out a reminder to the Clinics regarding the administration of hours of work. |
Open | ||
| Standing Items | |||
| Collective Work Descriptions (CWDs). HR advised that the writing/review process is ongoing. Consultation with UNDE continues and PIPSC has now been engaged to consult on CWDs of classifications they represent. | Standing Item | ||
| Contractors in Health Services Positions. D HS Del representative will provide the update secretarially. | Standing Item | ||
| Grievance Report. December 6, 2013 report provided secretarially. UNDE stated that the information as provided is of little value in being able to track issues. HR explained that the information is extracted from the GTS and is not broken out as the unions require, HR committed to providing specifics as they are requested. | Standing Item | ||
| Employment Equity Statistics. Committee members were reminded that statistics are updated and reported annually on March 31 (previously provided). | Standing Item | ||
Next Meeting. March 2014 (TBC).
Questions/comments welcomed.
In solidarity,
Submitted Electronically
Mary Chamberlain
UNDE Executive Vice President