Striking diplomats and Treasury Board no longer at odds / Pregnant B.C. teachers expecting cuts to short-term contracts
Foreign diplomats end strike, pen new deal with Treasury Board
OTTAWA — The longest strike in public service history — six months — is over. Canada’s diplomats have reached a tentative collective agreement with the federal government.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 26 following a week of secretive talks. All strike action both in Canada and abroad was stopped by the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) following the compromise.
"PAFSO is satisfied with this deal," said Tim Edwards, union president. "This agreement was reached through compromises on both sides. We salute the spirit of constructive engagement which our employer brought to our latest discussions. This deal is a victory for free and fair bargaining in the federal public service."
The agreement — which both PAFSO’s executive committee and the Treasury Board president Tony Clement have agreed to recommend — requires ratification by PAFSO’s membership and approval by the full Treasury Board.
"This tentative agreement reflects the government’s commitment to reaching fiscally responsible settlements that are fair to Canadian taxpayers and to employees," Clement said. "The settlement represents the efforts of both parties to reach an agreement that is aligned with what was accepted by other public-and-private-sector employees."
The 1,350 foreign service officers represented by PAFSO have been without a contract since July 1, 2011, and in a legal strike position since April 2, 2013. The union, representing officers working for Canada’s Border Services Agency, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, had only been on strike once before, in 2002.
"We are pleased that the government has recognized the tremendous value and dedication which foreign service officers provide to Canadians and their elected representatives," Edwards said. "It has been a hard-fought battle and I would like to salute the unity, resolve and stamina of our members in securing a fair and equitable deal. We’re excited to get back to doing the work we love, promoting and protecting Canada’s values and interests abroad."
B.C. schools cracking down on maternity leave
VICTORIA — A British Columbia school district’s plan to refuse work to pregnant teachers is a human rights violation, according to the union.
Concerned about revolving door classrooms, the Greater Victoria School District recently announced its plan to refuse a temporary contract to anyone who would not be available for at least half of its length.
According to the school district, substitute teachers who were accepting temporary contracts and then going on maternity leave set the district back an additional $250,000 per year. Of further concern is establishing a consistent, non-disruptive classroom environment for students.
But the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association (GVTA) knocked the policy, calling it an attack on both women’s rights and human rights.
Although the contracts usually last less than one year, the GVTA argued the teachers who fill those jobs are anything but temporary — as contract work is typically awarded based on aggregate length of service.
"Is this fair? Clearly not. Each of these teachers has the same level of service with the district. They are equally committed to their profession and their employer and the children they teach. But they are treated differently on the basis of family status and on the basis of sex," the GVTA said. "This is the definition of discrimination in the Charter of Rights and the B.C. Human Rights Code."
