CATCA CAW Local 5454 Exchanges Demands With Treasury Board

Bargaining for a new collective agreement for Transport Canada members formally commenced on Friday, July 9 in Ottawa, as the parties met to exchange and explain proposals.

Present on behalf of the Union were President Rob Thurgur, bargaining representative Frank DeCarlo, CAW National Representative Abe Rosner and Secretary Treasurer Greg Myles.

Union demands focussed on several key areas: reasonable annual pay increases in a three-year agreement, including the restructuring of the pay increment tables; a special paid leave program recognizing our members’ unique professional background and recruiting origin, making the public service in essence a second career; more flexibility in the banking and cash-out of time off in lieu of overtime; and compensation of all overtime at time-and-three-quarters.

The employer, for its part, tabled a number of largely technical amendments, aside from a repeat of its previous demand to delete LOU 4-04, the Union’s work ownership protection.

It is clear, as it was last December, that it will be impossible to secure the employer’s best pay offer before bargaining is more advanced at the larger public service union tables. Accordingly, for the same reasons that motivated the one-year agreement, the bargaining committee proposed that the next sessions be held in October. You will be kept advised of all developments, and copies of relevant documents are available on request.

In Solidarity,

Rob Thurgur Greg Myles

President National Secretary Treasurer