The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is an organization that aims to protect the rights and interests of public service employees in Canada. As a union, it negotiates collective agreements with the government and other employers to secure better working conditions and fair compensation for its members. One of the most significant agreements reached in recent years is the PSAC Collective Agreement 2017 SV Group.
The SV Group includes approximately 10,000 federal public service employees in various job classifications such as administrative support, program and service delivery, and technical services. The collective agreement negotiated in 2017 covers a four-year period from 2018 to 2022 and includes several improvements for these workers.
One of the most significant highlights of the agreement is a wage increase of 6.5% over the four-year period. This increase is in addition to the annual salary increments based on employees` performance and seniority. The agreement also includes a $650 lump sum payment to be paid to eligible workers in the first year of the agreement.
The 2017 collective agreement also introduces improved job security provisions for workers. These provisions include measures to minimize the impact of workforce adjustment situations and better job security for employees in term and casual positions.
The agreement also includes changes to the family leave and bereavement leave provisions. The family leave benefit has been extended to include care for critically ill or injured adult family members, and the bereavement leave duration has increased from three days to five days.
In addition to these improvements, the agreement includes changes to various other provisions such as hours of work, overtime, and vacation leave. The changes aim to improve work-life balance and job satisfaction for SV Group employees.
It is worth noting that the PSAC Collective Agreement 2017 SV Group negotiations were not without challenges. The bargaining process was long and difficult, with some workers taking job action to support their bargaining team. However, the agreement reached was a significant achievement for both workers and the PSAC.
In conclusion, the PSAC Collective Agreement 2017 SV Group is a crucial development for federal public service employees in Canada. The agreement secured wage increases, improved job security, and better work-life balance provisions for workers in the SV Group. These improvements demonstrate the importance of collective bargaining in protecting the rights and interests of unionized workers.