January 2009
Preamble
The Department recognizes that harmonious labour-management relationships are essential to a professional and productive work environment. Effective union-management relations are achieved when the parties act in good faith and appreciate and respect each other's contribution.
Purpose
The purpose of this framework is to ensure efficient and meaningful consultation between management and union representatives by exchanging information and views, recognizing the legal restrictions (Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA), Financial Administration Act (FAA), collective agreements, etc) on both parties.
Consultative Structure
The consultative structure is composed of the following:
- National Labour-Management Consultation Committee (NLMCC) (Annex A);
- Human Resources-Labour Consultation Committee (HRLCC) (Annex B);
- Local Labour-Management Consultation Committees (LLMCC) (Annex C).
It is acknowledged that these committees are essential for all parties to actively promote a healthy workplace and resolve issues impacting on employees.
It is also acknowledged that the unions represented within the Department of Canadian Heritage may not all have representatives in the regions. However, where representation exists, management will work with the unions to establish a process.
Guiding Principles
The National Labour-Management Consultation Committee and the Human Resources- Labour Consultation Committee operate in a consultative or, where applicable, a co-development capacity, without infringing with the Department's authority and its obligation to manage, or the unions' legal rights established by the Public Service Labour Relations Act or applicable collective agreements.
Review
The terms of reference for the NLMCC, HRLCC and the LLMCC can be amended at any time by mutual consent of the Department and the unions.
Approved by:
Original signed by
Judith A. LaRocque
Deputy Minister
Date June 7, 2007
Original signed by
Heather Brooker
President, National Component
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
Date May 24, 2007
Original signed by
Patrizia Campanella
Labour Relations Officer
Professional Institute of the
Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
Date May 24, 2007
Original signed by
Grant Boland
Labour Relations Advisor
Association of Canadian
Financial Officers (ACFO)
Date June 1st, 2007
Original signed by
Isabelle Germain
Senior Labour Relations Officer
Canadian Association of
Professional Employees (CAPE)
Date May 24, 2007
Annex A
January 2009
The National Labour- Management Consultation Committee (NLMCC)
Terms of Reference
Mandate
The NLMCC is a national exchange forum on strategic labour relations issues which will or could impact on the department's workforce.
Chair
Meetings are co-chaired by the Deputy Minister or the Associate Deputy Minister and a representative from the unions. The agenda is approved by the co-chairs.
Membership
a) Management Representatives
The PCH management representatives are:
- Deputy Minister or Associate Deputy Minister
- Director General - HR & Workplace Management Branch
- Deputy Director General - HR & Workplace Management Branch
- Director, Labour Relations & Classification
- One (1) Assistant Deputy Minister
- Two (2) Directors General from the Senior Advisory Committee on Employment Equity and Diversity (SACEED)
b) Union Representatives
The unions are represented by:
- Two (2) representatives of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) National Component
- One (1) representative of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
- One (1) representative of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
- One (1) representative of the Association of the Public Service Financial Administrators (APSFA)
c) Secretariat
- Manager, Labour Relations
d) Ex-officio
- Ombudsman
Meetings
The NLMCC meets twice a year if required, at times to be determined by mutual agreement of the parties. Meetings are held on the employer's premises and during regular working hours. Where applicable, the Department shall protect all invited Canadian Heritage employees against any loss of regular pay arising from their attendance at committee meetings.
The decision to hold a meeting is left to the discretion of the co-chairs. Additional participants may attend meetings as observers (e.g. the Ombudsman), or for the purpose of providing expertise or information on a particular subject matter. The Secretariat is to be informed when additional participants are attending a meeting as observers or experts.
Agenda
Meeting agendas are prepared by the Secretariat, with input from both management and the unions. It is distributed to NLMCC members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. In order to make the meetings more productive, agenda items should include, where necessary, brief explanatory notes.
Minutes
Minutes are prepared by the Secretariat and distributed to the members within ten (10) days of each meeting. Minutes are signed by the co-chairs and made available to all employees through the PCH Intranet site. Electronic copies will be sent to the bargaining agents.
Annex B
January 2009
The Human Resources - Labour Consultation Committee (HRLCC)
Terms of reference
Mandate
The HRLCC is a forum focussed on the early identification and resolution of specific labour relations and employment equity issues affecting the Department's human resources and its operations at the national level.
Chair
Meetings are co-chaired by the Director General, Human Resources and Workplace Management Branch and a representative from the unions.
Membership
a) Management representatives
The Human Resource and Workplace Management Branch is represented by:
- Director General
- Deputy Director General
- Five (5) representatives from the Branch
b) Union representatives
The unions are represented by:
- Two (2) representatives of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) National Component
- Two (2) representative of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
- One (1) representative of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
- One (1) representative of the Association of the Public Service Financial Administrators (APSFA)
c) Secretariat
- Senior Labour Relations Advisor, Labour Relations
d) Ex-officio
- Ombudsman
Meetings
The HRLCC meets four times a year at the call of the co-chairs. Meetings are held on the employer's premises and during regular working hours. Where applicable, the Department shall protect all invited Canadian Heritage employees against any loss of regular pay arising from their attendance at committee meetings.
The decision to hold a meeting is left to the discretion of the co-chairs. Additional participants may attend meetings as observers or for the purpose of providing expertise or information on a particular subject matter. The Secretariat is to be informed when additional participants will be attending a meeting as observers or experts.
Agenda
Meeting agendas are prepared by the Secretariat, with input from both management and union representatives. The agenda is approved by the co-chairs and distributed to HR-LCC members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. In order to make the meetings more productive agenda items should include, where necessary, brief explanatory notes.
Minutes
Minutes are prepared by the Secretariat and will be distributed within fifteen (15) working days after the meeting. The unions will have fifteen (15) working days to provide their comments after the receipt of the Minutes. If no comments are received, it shall constitute an agreement. Minutes will be posted on the PCH Intranet site once these have been approved by e-mail, instead of waiting official signature of all parties. Minutes are signed by the co-chairs and made available to all employees through the PCH Intranet site. Electronic copies will be sent to the bargaining agents.
Annex C
Local Labour-Management Consultation Committees (LLMCC)
Terms of Reference
Introduction
The following framework is suggested for the establishment of the Committees and their operation in the NCR and in the regions across Canada where unions would have the capacity to have labour-management consultations. It can be amended by mutual consent of the parties, where necessary.
Mandate
The LLMCC is a forum focussed on the early identification and resolution of local labour relations issues in the workplace at the local level. These meetings should take place in each workplace where there are locals.
Membership (NCR)
a) Management representatives - Human Resources and Workplace Management Branch
- Director, Labour Relations and Classification
- Manager, Labour Relations
b) Union representatives
- Local Representatives from PSAC (2)
- Local Representative from PIPSC
c) Secretariat
- Secretariat services are provided by management
Membership (Region)
a) Management representatives
- Regional Executive Director
- Manager
b) Union representatives
- Local Representatives from the unions
c) Secretariat
- Secretariat services are provided by management
Chair
In the NCR, meetings are co-chaired by the Director, Labour Relations and Classification and a local representative from the unions. In the regions, meetings are co-chaired by the Regional Executive Director and a local representative from the unions
Meetings
The LLMCC meets at the call of the co-chairs, at times to be determined by mutual agreement of the parties. Meetings are held on the employer's premises and during regular working hours. Where applicable, the Department shall protect all invited Canadian Heritage employees against any loss of regular pay arising from their attendance at committee meetings.
The decision to hold a meeting is left to the discretion of the co-chairs. Additional participants may attend meetings as observers or for the purpose of providing expertise or information on a particular subject matter. The Secretariat is to be informed when additional participants will be attending a meeting as observers or experts.
Agenda
Meeting agendas are prepared by the Secretariat with input from both management and union representatives. The agenda will be approved by the co-chairs and distributed to LLMCC members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. In order to make the meetings more productive agenda items should include, where necessary, brief explanatory notes.
Minutes
Minutes are prepared by the Secretariat and distributed to the members within ten (10) days of each meeting. The minutes are signed by the co-chairs and made available to all employees through the PCH Intranet site. Electronic copies will be sent to the bargaining agents.