Bill C 7

Some goods news for our membership. 

www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/14/senate-rewrites-rcmp-bill-to-broaden-bargaining-grievance-rights-for-mounties.html

Opposition won't support legislation to let Mounties unionize without secret-ballot certification vote

With the clock ticking down to a tight deadline imposed by the Supreme Court of Canada, CBC News has learned the Official Opposition is pulling support for a bill that would give Mounties the right to collective bargaining.

Bill C-7 moves forward without change to health benefits
RCMP spouses, retired Mounties speak up over Bill C-7
Supreme Court sets deadline for RCMP collective bargaining
The Conservatives had supported Bill C-7 at second reading, on the hopes it would be amended at committee to guarantee a secret ballot for RCMP members if they decide to certify a union.

While the proposed legislation was tweaked at committee to remove controversial sections that would have altered officers' health benefits, committee members voted down an amendment suggested by Conservative public safety critic Erin O'Toole to ensure any future certification vote is held by secret ballot.

'Undemocratric'

"The Liberals are failing to support the brave men and women of the RCMP by forcing them to adopt this undemocratic practice. Conservatives will always stand with the RCMP and we will not support legislation that so blatantly violates the wishes of its members," O'Toole said.

Conservative Treasury Board critic Pierre Poilievre called the secret ballot a fundamental democratic right.

"Instead of forcing RCMP members to disclose their vote publicly, the Liberals should listen to RCMP members who are concerned that their vote will impact their workplace situation," he said.

The Liberal government has always maintained the mechanics for union certification would be addressed in another bill before the House, which the Conservatives also oppose.

Bill C-4 seeks to fulfil a Liberal campaign promise to repeal controversial labour laws brought in under the previous, Conservative government.

One of them, C-525, changed the union certification process in federally-regulated workplaces — such as the RCMP — from a "card check" system where a simple majority of workers sign a union card, to a two-step process that includes secret-ballot vote.

Unions universally panned the legislation, saying it would make it harder for federal government employees to organize.

Deadline looming

The Mounties remain Canada's only non-unionized police force.

To date, officers and the two groups seeking to represent them have lobbied MPs to change several aspects of the bill, but have been largely silent about just how they would prefer to certify should they choose to form a union.

Their most pressing concerns about C-7 included the now-expunged health-care provisions, as well as a list of issues excluded from the bargaining table, such as harassment and staffing levels.

NDP MP Daniel Blaikie was the sole committee member to recommend removing the list of exclusions, but his colleagues didn't support his amendment.

Parliament doesn't have much time to work this one out as the Supreme Court's deadline for C-7 to become law is May 16.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-union-bill-conservatives-1.3572872

According to the article I just posted in the MVA Category "The RCMP and the public service those members who were serving before the new rules came into force were allowed to “opt in” or “opt out” of the new system depending upon how its advantages and disadvantages looked to them"

They were given the option to choose the NVC or remain with the PA.

Where members of the military were not given that option.

I would hope that if any changes are being made or considered that would jeopardize losing the PA for the RCMP , they put a stop to it !

In addition as part of this bill any disability award/pensions received by an employee will be linked up with that individuals, occupational health care treatment costs. It is very likely that a percentage or all of any disability award/pension received by that person will be used to subsidize that individuals health care costs. Navrat, I think you are correct in that government is trying to phase out the PA. Going to be an interesting few years under this government.

It sounds to me , that the government wants to kill off the PA , I believe that's why they didn't bring it back in the Kent / Trudeau promises! It's too expensive !

big trade off . catch 21 as well . if you had a union you would be able to fight the elimination of the PA very effectively BUT to get a union ya got to give up the PA.

FRACKED UP.

propat

Here is an informative link;

http://mppac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Communique-63-Bill-C-7-Initial-Review-and-Shortcomings-March-25.pdf

In fact, the RCMP is the ONLY police organization out of 230 plus police agencies in Canada that does NOT have a union. In the past, Regular and Civilian Members have had an SRR(Staff Relations Representative) program created by our senior management to address employee concerns; there was some good and some bad with this arrangement. Not sure how we managed to keep the PA when the changes came about under the last NVC but thankfully we did.

Going forward under this Bill, there is a strong possibility that any member who suffers a work related injury after this new legislation is passed would no longer qualify for PA or any other service under Veteran Affairs. That member would fall under Provincial Workplace Compensation which has DIFFERENT policies that vary from Province to Province and is a completely different beast than the VAC program. It will create a "tiered health care model" for a National police force. As well, this Bill C7 will ONLY allow the union/association to bargain specific issues such as pay and benefits and a few others. The Bill will NOT allow for bargaining of issues related to police equipment and officer safety issues (e.g personnel shortages, backup, training, etc) which are some of the MAIN issues affecting our officers.

Trooper, in my opinion Ontario workers compensation is by far better than VAC PA by far. If the RCMP can get unionized it will be the best thing to happen to those guys at least you'd have a police union covering your back. Imagine if we in the cf had Union reps at release! We would have known about every benefit and any bs that sisip or vac pulled on us

This sounds important , the union protected the RCMP in keeping the PA.

Newf I hope they can somehow stop this BILL from passing , just the mention of having VAC benefits removed would be of concern.

The Supreme Court have given the RCMP until May 16, 2016 to come up with new legislation that would allow officers a choice in labour relations.  The new legislation(bill c7) was introduced with a first reading in early March of 2016 and it will likely be passed prior to May 16th. The bill  will give officers some choice in having an association or some other form of union.  However and more importantly, it will likely strip down officers health and work related injury benefits.   Officers injured at work would fall under Provinical workplace compensation programs rather than Veteran Affairs.  I strongly suggest for any serving or retired officers to contact your local MP and voice your concerns about this bill.   Read more here or google same.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=NoticeOrder&Mode=1&Language=E&Parl=42&Ses=1&File=4