Dear members:
Please join RCEA members, RCEA stewards and staff at the 2018 AGM on Tuesday October 23, 5 p.m. at NRC’s M-50 auditorium. The meeting will be broadcast live by Baldwin Audio/Visual via https://livestream.com/BaldwinRentals/rcea2018. Questions and discussion items may be submitted online during the meeting.
We are pleased to have Simon Coakeley as our guest speaker. The National Association of Federal Retirees promotes and advocates for improvements in their members’ retirement financial security and for a sustainable health care system. NAFR has over 176,000 members and is the largest national advocacy organization representing active and retired members including the federal public service.
The RCEA annual audit, conducted by McCay Duff LLP, was completed in August 2018. The new office location has reduced costs as expected. Bernard Holbrook, the RCEA’s Treasurer, will be discussing the auditor’s report in more detail at the AGM. For a copy of the financial audit please contact office@rcea.ca.
The December Shutdown agreement between the RCEA, PIPSC, and NRC was signed in April 2018. A full day on Monday, December 24th is included for the shutdown. Therefore, for members on a 37.5-hour work week, the shutdown hours will total 30 hours. Exception is for those employees who are required to work during the shutdown period because of operational requirements. Members whose regular work week is different, including part time, compressed work schedule, etc. will have their December shutdown hours adjusted accordingly.
The new collective agreements have been finalized with implementation dates: TO on January 16, 2018; AD, AS, and PG on February 22, 2018; CS on March 5, 2018; and OP on May 23, 2018. I realize that this round of negotiations was long but, as we know, the former federal government was attempting to pass damaging legislation that would have gravely affected unions and their membership. Fighting against these measures delayed the negotiation processes. I am pleased to say that these attempts to change your union rights and benefits were not realized. The change in federal government in 2015 also slowed the process. At this point, I simply do not know if the next negotiations will be expedited or slowed due to the approaching federal election in October 2019. I will keep you informed of any updates as I learn of them.
I hope to see you at your Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, October 23, 5pm EDT, at the M-50 Auditorium in Ottawa. Live link at https://livestream.com/BaldwinRentals/rcea2018.
It is my honour and privilege to represent you and the Association.
Thank you.
Cathie Fraser, President