OCEANS, HABITAT & SPECIES at RISK UNION MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION COMMITTEE MEETING

MAY 13, 2009

In attendance

Mimi Breton / ADM
Wayne Moore / DG Oceans
Pat LeBlanc / For DG of Habitat Management
Youseff Mani / For DG of Species at Risk
Neil Shaughnessy / Director PPC
Andrea Chase / Labour Relations
Dave Villeneuve / PPC Senior Advisor
Rod McDonald / PIPS
Paula Dignan / UEW - PSAC
Daryl Hoelke / UEW - PSAC

Welcoming Remarks & Approval of Agenda:

Following Mimi’s welcoming remarks, the agenda was approved and introductions were made to reflect Darryl Holke’s attendance.

1AApproval of the November 20, 2008 Record of Discussion

The record of discussion was approved. Paula Dignan and Darryl Holke noted that their union should in future be referred to as the UEW – PSAC, rather than simply PSAC.

1BReview of Action Items from November 20, 2008

The review of action items was approved. The UEW noted that they had not received the electronic version of the DFO learning guide. (The UEW later sent an e-mail to PPC indicating that they had received the electronic version of the learning guide.)

Action Item:

PPC will resend both the employee and manager learning guide to the UEW in both official languages - completed

2An Update on National Model Work Descriptions (NMWD)

An update of the status of NMWDs for OHSAR’s various classification groups was presented. The absence of an ES-06 NMWD was questioned and a discussion took place toexamine career advancement opportunities for EG employees. As an example it was suggested that experience might be considered an equivalency to education for senior level EGs who wish to advance to a Biologistposition.

The lack of corporate progress on the development of AS and CR NMWDs was noted; and it was suggested that models for these occupational groups are being developed in C & A region.

Unions were advised that a May 08 video-conference with OHSAR regional directors took place to discuss NMWD issues; and in particular Maritime and C & A concerns pertaining to the content of the BI NMWDs. Unions noted their concern that BI employees may be undertaking work beyond the scope of the work descriptions.

It was also noted that as of yet, no decision has been taken to develop ENG NMWDs.

Action Items:

Labour Relations

  • Labour Relations will explore potential means that are available to assist EG employees without university education to advance their careers.
  • Labour Relations will confer with corporate HR on the status of AS and CR NMWD development in the C & A region and development plans for all of DFO.

PPC

  • PPC will collect BI NMWD content concerns from the Maritime and C & A regions and discuss with senior management what actions to undertake (e.g. potential development of a variant NMWD). – in progress
  • PPC will forward to the unions a table outlining the number and location of ENG employees within OHSAR sector.- completed
  • PPC will communicate to the UEW the timing of EG classification work.– once the OCCOE apprises PPC of their EG classification schedule, it will be communicated to the UEW.

3Round Table

The UEW noted that an in the loop message from C & A senior management had been circulated to staff to discuss the impact of a salary shortfall. It was suggested that the memo assured staff that no indeterminate job losses would occur. Unions commented that reduction measures aimed at term and casual employees will impact on the workload of indeterminate employees.

Unions were apprised of the recent report from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD)that contains a chapter entitled “protecting fish habitat”. Management indicated that the report may be viewed by employees as being critical of theHabitat Management program. The unions expressed concern that the OAG report might negatively impact employee morale and questioned what mitigation action management would take.

Action Item

It was agreed that management would send to the unions; the link to the CESD report; and messaging aimed at habitat employees concerning the CESD report.- completed

The ADM of OHSAR (Mimi Breton) informed the unions of her decision to retire and thanked everyone for contributing to the constructive discussion that has occurred during the recent union / management meetings.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will occur in November of 2009.