Non-monetary items and the problem-plagued Phoenix pay system were top of the agenda as our bargaining team met October 4 to 6 with Canadian Food Inspection Agency negotiators.
The three-day talks, held in Ottawa, focused on such collective agreement language as statement of duties, grievance procedures and the memorandum of understanding on wash-up time.
The bargaining sessions also allowed us to reiterate our concerns over the continuing chaos being caused by the Phoenix system. Problems with over- and under-payment, acting pay, benefits and pay stub information are still rampant.
CFIA management has committed to resolving the majority of Phoenix problems by the end of the fiscal year.
In the interim, Agriculture Union members who are still facing pay issues as a result of the new system should contact the employer at 1888HRHInfo@inspection.gc.ca or through the Public Service Pay Centre. Members are entitled to emergency pay if they have not received their pay on time.
Our bargaining team has set dates to continue negotiations over the next three months in the hope that significant progress can be made in reaching a new collective agreement.