The RCEA provides advice and individual representation to members on all employment related issues. It represents members in grievances and complaints, both at NRC and before independent third parties, such as the Public Service Labour Relations Board, Provincial Worker’s Compensation Boards, the National Joint Council, etc…
The RCEA represents the interests of its members on many committees on an ongoing basis.
Joint Consultation Committee (JCC)
The JCC is a joint national consultation committee made up of representatives from the RCEA, PIPSC and NRC. It meets four times each year. At these meetings, issues and items of national concern are raised and discussed. Typically, the two bargaining agents, RCEA and PIPSC, bring forth issues of concern to members. Recent topics have included: term employees, the application of medical dental leave, workforce adjustment situations, time recording, grievance handling, and overall labour management relations. Minutes are taken of these meetings.
National Committee Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH)
The NCOSH is another national level committee made up of representatives from the RCEA, PIPSC and NRC. It is devoted solely to safety and health issues at NRC. It also meets four times each year.
National Joint Council (NJC)
The RCEA is a member of the National Joint Council, which is a bilateral body made up of most public service employers and all public service bargaining agents, of which there are 18. The NJC is responsible for the development, negotiation and management of the public service health care and dental plans. It is also responsible for the negotiation of public service wide directives or policies, such as government travel, relocation, occupational safety and health, official languages, Foreign Service directives, etc. The President of the RCEA sits on the National Joint Council itself, as well as on the Occupational Safety and Health Committee. The RCEA negotiator is a member of the Government Relocation Committee which is presently in the process of negotiating the Relocation Directive.
Other Consultations
As required, the RCEA consults with NRC (and often PIPSC) on other matters of concern. For example, extensive consultations will take place, likely next year, during the classification review as well as on revisions to the Workforce Adjustment Policy. We also anticipate consultations on the Composition of The Workforce Policy which deals with term employment. We are in the process of consulting on the Intellectual Property Policy and will be seeking consultation on the Probation Policy.
Sometimes it is necessary, for either a group or individual case, to obtain legal advice and to proceed to the Courts or Commissions. Over the years, the RCEA has had cases before the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Canada, the Ontario Superior Court, and the Public Service Labour Relations Board.