CRPEG is submitting three separate proposals for the 2024 round of negotiations for the renewal of the CRPEG collective agreement; administrative changes (presented November 09, 2023), general non-monetary proposals presented in this last session on December 9th, and salary proposals to be presented in the new year. A number of negotiation meetings have been scheduled in 2024 in January, February and April.
The CRPEG membership has given the bargaining team a clear mandate: improve working conditions, promote members’ rights and interests, and vigorously safeguard professional standards. In this round, we will build on the successes the parties collectively achieved in previous rounds since 1993. Our goal, as always, is to reach a fair and equitable agreement at the bargaining table. The agreement is a mature agreement and as such a thorough review of the terms and benefits was necessary. The terms of the contract have been relatively stagnant for a considerable period of time, with only minor changes to benefits and conditions.
The company faces significant hurdles in attracting and retaining the staff required to meet its goals. The number of vacancies for professional scientists and engineers for bargaining unit positions remains high. Our members consistently report they are overworked due to insufficient staffing.
Together, we must learn how to be successful in addressing challenges of an ever changing work environment, which includes remote work and on site work. After several years of working within this changing environment, we now have experience to help interpret and shape articles and conditions to produce clearer guidelines for our working environment. Changes made during the past pandemic require refinement given the benefit of hindsight, and areas of neglect need new attention and refreshing based on current real-world conditions.
It is our hope that these will be approached with open minds on both sides. With all of the changes going on around us, the CRPEG commits to think creatively and work openly and honestly together with the Company to reach our goal of a fair agreement that fully recognizes the professional work of the membership.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the negotiations team via the following email address: crpeg_negotiations@pipsc.ca
In solidarity, your CRPEG Negotiations Team