UPDATED BARGAINING DATES

(Last Updated April 25, 2013)

Group Homes - April 29 – May 1, 2013 (POSTPONED)

School Boards - April 24 – 26, 2013

Health Professionals (HP) - April 2 – 5, 2013

Hospital Support Staff (HSS) - April 8 – 12, 2013

CNA Support Staff - April 9 – 12, 2013

WHSCC - April 15 – 18, 2013

UPDATED BARGAINING DATES

(Last Updated March 4, 2013)

CNA Faculty – March 25 – 27, 2013

General Service  (Chris Henley – ERO) - February 25 – March 1, 2013

Health Professionals (Amanda Galway – ERO) - March 12 – 14, 2013

Hospital Support Staff (HSS) - March 18 – 22, 2013

MOS (Bert Blundon – Secretary Treasurer) - February 25 – March 1, 2013

School Boards (Vina Gould – ERO) - March 11 – 13, 2013

WHSCC (Trevor King – ERO) - February 25 – March 1, 2013

PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 7

February 13, 2013

You can read the transcript of the video here.

UPDATED BARGAINING DATES

(Last Updated February 6, 2013)

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Upcoming dates:

CNA Faculty (Trevor King – ERO)

February 18 – 20, 2013

CNA Support Staff (Trevor King – ERO)

February 5 – 8, 2013

General Service  (Chris Henley – ERO)

February 25 – March 1, 2013

MOS (Bert Blundon – Secretary Treasurer)

February 25 – March 1, 2013

WHSCC (Trevor King – ERO)

February 25 – March 1, 2013

—————–

Previous Dates (2013):

CNA Faculty (Trevor King – ERO)

January 21 – 25, 2013

Group Homes  (Frank Pittman – ERO)

January 8 – 10, 2013

MOS (Bert Blundon – Secretary Treasurer)

January 8 – 10, 2013

MUN (Chris Henley – ERO)

MUN Maintenance - January 28 – February 1, 2013

MUN Custodial - January 16 – 18, 2013

NLC (Austin Deir – ERO)

January 23 – 25, 2013

Student Assistants (Vina Gould – ERO)

January 21 – 25, 2013

Ushers (Trudi Brake – ERO)

January 28 – February 1, 2013

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PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 6

November 6, 2012

Sisters and Brothers:

On Thursday November 1^st NAPE and three other public sector unions met with government. The original purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Job Evaluation System, or JES for short.   

Before I move on however, I have further news. At this meeting, out of the blue, we were also advised that government is considering changes to the public sector pension plans. They did not even share with us the options they are considering. They did not give us any further information but you can be sure that the news is not positive. The unions have requested a meeting with the Minister of Finance to discuss this matter.

We want government to outline the changes they are considering to the pension plans. It’s not good enough for government to be unilaterally considering changes to the pension plans without discussing these changes with the stakeholder’s representatives.  Ironically, government doesn’t appear to have any problems having these discussions with employer groups.   

We also want to make our position quite clear – don’t mess with our pensions.

Now back to the Job Evaluation System.  At that meeting we were presented a proposal regarding the new JES.  Government is proposing that the new job evaluation system be implemented March 31, 2016. Yes, I did say March 31, 2016. Furthermore, government is proposing the implementation of the new JES is conditional on reaching a four year collective agreement for each bargaining unit.

Government’s proposal regarding the JES is totally unacceptable on a number of fronts.  Employees have waited for years for the results of the new JES.  A further delay of four years will see employee groups not having their classification issues dealt with in a fair, timely and objective manner.

We are not prepared to agree to four year collective agreements when the employer has concessions on the table and the employer has yet to propose any monetary package such as salaries. We want to know what we are negotiating and signing onto. All we have heard so far about salaries is public comments from government that restraint is necessary. They are trying to get us to agree to four year agreements before we even negotiate the terms of the agreement.

We see government’s bargaining proposals as part of a broader agenda to reduce public services and lower the standard of living for public employees during their working years and after they retire. The goal of unionized workers has always been to strive for a better work environment for ourselves and for those who follow in our footsteps.  Government’s agenda would see a workplace where our children and grandchildren become the first generation to inherit a workplace that will have lower benefits and lower wages than those which we had achieved over decades of struggle.

Government seems to be listening to employer groups, who in our opinion want a workplace with low wages, few benefits and no pensions.  This sounds very much like the Stephen Harper agenda.

At times of unprecedented wealth government should be improving public services. Now is not the time to cut public services, make the sick wait longer for care, or make young children ride for hours on buses. It is not a time to try and take back the gains of forty years of collective bargaining struggles.

It is our conclusion that government is negotiating to try and force a strike.  Let me be clear – government will not make that decision for us. We will decide, in conjunction with you the members, what action will, or will not, be taken

Over the coming weeks we will continue with collective bargaining until we have what we deem to be government’s final offer. We will continue to update you as developments occur.

I ask you to be patient as we move collective bargaining forward.  As I have said in the past, we have to bargain smart if we are to bargain effectively. 

PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 5

October 30, 2012

(TRANSCRIPT OF MESSAGE)

Hello,

Negotiations for all NAPE public sector bargaining units have been ongoing since early spring. From the outset government has been insisting that the new Job Evaluation System (JES), which covers the majority of bargaining units in the public service, had to form part of the bargaining process.

This has caused significant delays in negotiations towards new collective agreements. In an attempt to move bargaining forward Secretary Treasurer Bert Blundon and I have initiated separate discussions with Treasury Board officials regarding the JES.

These discussions took place throughout the summer. Unfortunately, there is still no agreement on the implementation formula for the JES.

Collective bargaining negotiations are continuing throughout the fall.

To date the discussions have primarily focused on non monetary issues. To be candid, we have been extremely disappointed with government’s approach to bargaining and the lack of meaningful progress.

At this point, we are committed to staying at the bargaining table until an impasse is reached or we have satisfactorily concluded negotiations.

You may have noticed as a part of the bargaining process NAPE has launched an extensive advertising campaign promoting the value of your work and the impact of cuts to our health care system. This campaign will continue. If a bargaining impasse occurs, the focus of the campaign will be changed to reflect the issues flowing from the bargaining table.

We are committed to achieving the best possible collective agreements for the membership.

Time will tell if the provincial government is prepared to bargain fairly and respect the vital contribution of NAPE members to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Recent public statements from the Premier are a cause for concern. On one hand, government boasts about our vibrant economy while at the same time we see reductions in service throughout the public sector.

As the bargaining process plays out we will be in a better position to decide if governments agenda for bargaining is one of cooperation or confrontation. While we prefer the former we are ready if it is the latter.

Further updates will be posted on our website.

Thank You

PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 4

September 24, 2012

(Last Updated November 22, 2012)

Throughout the course of public sector negotiations updates will be posted on this website. You are encouraged to check in regularly with the website for important updates about bargaining.

Below you will find the following information: component, ERO assigned to that group, and current schedule of negotiations (Fall 2012).

Please make every effort to make this information available to the members of your respective locals/work sites.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact NAPE at 709.754.0700 or via email at kdunne@nape.nf.ca

Air Services (Elaine Price – ERO)

October 1 – 4, 2012

November 19 – 22, 2012

CNA Faculty (Trevor King – ERO)

December 11 – 13, 2012

CNA Support Staff (Trevor King- ERO)

November 26 – 28, 2012

General Service (Chris Henley – ERO)

October 1 –  5, 2012

October 29 – November 2, 2012

November 26 – 30, 2012

Group Homes  (Frank Pittman – ERO)

January 8 – 10, 2013

Health Professionals (Mandy Galway – ERO)

October 15 – 17, 2012

November 13 – 14, 2012

Hospital Support Staff (Jerry Earle – ERO)

October 3 – 5, 2012

October 24 – 26, 2012

December 3 – 6, 2012

Lab & X-Ray (Austin Deir – ERO)

November 5 – 9, 2012

Marine Services (Elaine Price – ERO)

October 24 – 26, 2012

November 4 – 5, 2012

MOS (Bert Blundon – NAPE Secretary -Treasurer)

October 15 – 18, 2012

November 26 – 30, 2012

MUN (Chris Henley – ERO)

MUN Maintenance - October 10, 2012

MUN Enforcement & Patrol - October 11, 2012

MUN Custodial - October 12, 2012

NLC (Austin Deir – ERO)

October 23 – 25, 2012

School Boards (Trudi Brake – ERO)

September 24 – 27, 2012

December 17 – 21, 2012

Student Assistants (Vina Gould – ERO)

October 24 – 26, 2012

December 10 – 14, 2012

WHSCC (Trevor King – ERO)

September 24 – 28, 2012

PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 3

June 26, 2012

As you are aware most of our public sector collective agreements expired  March 31, 2012. All of our negotiating teams have been at the bargaining table however the process is moving forward very slowly. At this point one of the main stumbling blocks is govermment’s insistence that their new Job Evaluation System (JES) and its implementation have to be dealt with as part of the bargaining process.

The government’s JES covers approximately 25,000 bargaining unit employees, it affects multiple bargaining units, and multiple unions. The JES will cover 750 classifications of which NAPE represents more than 700. All four unions have objected to the JES being a condition of reaching collective agreements. We continue to meet with government in an attempt to resolve this impasse and we expect to continue to meet over the summer months.

To further complicate the collective bargaining process, this week, government introduced an Act to amend Public Sector Collective Bargaining legislation. The change would permit government to have the Labour Relations Board submit the employer’s final offer to a vote. While this may seem simple enough it has many negative applications when applied in the public sector.  Government, unlike other employers, has the ability to change the rules of collective bargaining as it sees fit. Additionally, government has powers under the Public Service Collective Bargaining Act that do not apply to private sector employers.

Under public service legislation government can request up to 50 percent of employees to be essential. Government has the authority to deny employees the right to strike and to legislate settlements which they have done many times in the past. They now want an additional right to decide when and how employees can vote on the employer’s offer.

Under the legislation the only information that will be provided to employees will be government’s final offer. At that time employees will not receive the union’s proposals. There won’t be opportunity for employees to ask questions and seek clarification of the offer. As you are aware collective agreement language can be complex and legalistic and often requires explanations.

Currently when NAPE receives a final offer from government we take the offer back to the membership for review, discussion and debate. Following this votes are conducted and the ballots are counted in the presence of the membership.

We can now find ourselves in a situation where we spend weeks consulting with members with members making a decision only to find the government could force members to vote again, bargaining unit by bargaining unit. This could delay the process indefinitely.

In this scenario, if the members reject the employers vote the government can then simply legislate the settlement. Either way the government wins. If they want the right to order a vote among the members they should be bound to accept the result and not then use their power to legislate a settlement.

Government at no time prior to introducing this legislation consulted with NAPE.  We are also sceptical about the timing of this amendment as we are in the middle of negotiations.  This amendment gives government a far greater control over the process and could create endless delays in ever reaching an agreement.

We are very concerned even with the logistical problems.  I will give you an example, during the job evaluation process the employers had to generate lists of employees to complete questionnaires. When the list was produced there were numerous inaccuracies, with people listed who were retired, deceased, in management, etc. We can only imagine the kind of list that will be created for the purpose of their vote.

Since you chose me as your President I have committed to ensuring the best possible collective agreements for you with the process of negotiations having with the least impact on you and your families. I believe by any measurement we have met that commitment.  In spite of recent setbacks, we will work with government and employers in a co-operative manner as long as they are committed to treating you fairly in the bargaining process.

Negotiations will likely be on hold during the summer months due to summer vacations. NAPE Secretary-Treasurer Bert Blundon and I will continue to meet with government over the summer to try and move the process forward.

From time to time we ask you check our website for updates on current issues.

Thank You

PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 2

April 04 2012

Negotiations for the majority of NAPE public sector bargaining units have commenced with the provincial government. To date, little progress has been made at the bargaining table. The stumbling block is the implementation of the new Job Evaluation System (JES). The affected public sector Unions continue to meet with government in an attempt to agree [...]

Negotiations for the majority of NAPE public sector bargaining units have commenced with the provincial government. To date, little progress has been made at the bargaining table.

The stumbling block is the implementation of the new Job Evaluation System (JES). The affected public sector Unions continue to meet with government in an attempt to agree on an implementation process for the new system. This is proving to be difficult and time consuming.

As a result NAPE has indicated to government that the JES should be completed outside of the bargaining process. We are committed to reaching negotiated collective agreements that are satisfactory to the membership.

As part of the bargaining process NAPE has developed an extensive public relations advertising campaign. The campaign, entitled: NAPE – Every Day. For your day., highlights the myriad of vital services that NAPE members provide to the public each and every day across Newfoundland and Labrador. More information on the campaign, including samples of video, radio and print ads can be found at: www.napeeveryday.ca

As the bargaining process unfolds we will provide further updates.

PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING UPDATE 1

March 15, 2012

As you are aware, public sector collective bargaining began last week. Below you will find the following information: component, bargaining team for each component, ERO assigned to that group, and schedule of negotiations.

For those components that have begin negotiations, proposals have been exchanged, but there is little else to report at this point as we are in the early stages of bargaining.

Please make every effort to make this information available to the members of your respective locals.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact NAPE at 709.754.0700 or via email at kdunne@nape.nf.ca

General Service (Chris Henley – ERO)

Martin Elson

Kerry Sears

Kevin McDonald

Kathy Oake

Bev Maloney

Brenda Eldridge

Lisa King

GS met the week of March 5 – 9.  Will be meeting again week of March 19-24.

Hospital Support Staff (Jerry Earle – ERO)

Jimmy Lacey

Junior Bursey

David Healey

Bernie Power

Karen Gillard

Kelly Roche

Scott Mercer

HS met the week of March 5-9.  Will be meeting again week of March 19-24.

MOS   (Bert Blundon – NAPE Secretary-Treasurer)

Cecil Reid

Carl Lush

Mark Goudie

Gervase White

Danny Wilton

Dwayne King

Wayde Thompson

MOS met week of March 5-9.  Scheduling for next dates in progress.

Health Professionals (Mandy Galway – ERO)

Pat Croke

Dallas Pearce

Andy Parsons

Michelle Shears Rumbolt

Les Budden

HP met week of March 5-9.  Meeting again March 28-30.

Marine Services (Elaine Price – ERO)

Tim Boone

Howard Dodge

Gerard Walbourne

Don Wiseman

Marine Services meeting week of March 12-16.

Lab & X-Ray (Austin Deir – ERO)

Jeff Quilty

Barry Blagdon

Gilbert Butt

Kevin Vey

Daniel Reid

LX meeting week of March 12-16.

Student Assistants (Vina Gould – ERO)

Kelly Eddy

Gloria Peddle

Betty Goodyear

Marie Lodge

Joann Crane

Student Assistants meeting week of March 12-16.

CNA Support Staff (Trevor King- ERO)

Wanda Flannigan

Wanda Butt

Shirley Murphy

Robert Breen

Rhonda Collier

CNA Support Staff meeting week of March 12-16.

NLC (Austin Deir – ERO)

Grant Horan

David Brien

Bob Hopkins

Darren Feltham

Gerald Carroll

Meeting set for week of March 19-24.

School Boards (Trudi Brake – ERO)

Ed Traverse

Joanne Miles

Lorne Head

Marion McLean

Ted Rouzes

Garry Butt

Karen Stagg

Meeting set for week of March 19-24.

OTHER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UPDATES

The following collective bargaining agreements (Homecare, private or town councils) are currently in negotiations (as of December 2012):

• WISE

NAPE Welcomes New Members (2011)

We continue to be the largest Union in the Province and our membership is growing. In 2011, NAPE organized employees with the following five new home care agencies:

• Home Sweet Home
• A Better Living
• All Care Home Care
• Helping Hands
• Quality Homecare

NAPE’s organizing drive of home care workers continues. The greatest asset home care workers will have in negotiating decent collective agreements is strength in numbers. Welcome to these and all other new members.

Special acknowledgement to organizers Dave Healey, Paul Foley, Bernie Power and Sadie Chin for their hard work.

Finalized Collective Agreements (2011)

NAPE has been active at the bargaining table this past year. In total, the following 20 collective agreements were finalized in 2011:

• Acadian Village
• Brinks Canada Limited
• Browning Harvey Limited
• Comfort Inn – Airport
• Country Ribbon Cochrane Pond
• Country Ribbon
• Grand Bank Town Council
• Home Sweet Home
• Lewisporte Town Council
• NL Nurses Union
• Port au Choix Town Council
• Port aux Basques Town Council
• Portugal Cove-St. Philips Town Council
• Pouch Cove Town Council
• Purity Factories Limited
• Quality Hotel
• Regional Aquatic Centre
• Safety Services NL
• St. John’s Independent School
• Victorian Order of Nurses (VON)