The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) civilian members are embroiled in a collective agreement negotiation. The RCMP employs thousands of civilians in various positions, including administrative support personnel, forensic laboratory researchers, and other non-police roles.
The RCMP civilian members collective agreement is a crucial matter that relates to the terms of employment and working conditions of the RCMP civilians. The collective agreement outlines the wages, benefits, and working conditions that the RCMP civilians are entitled to. It is negotiated between the RCMP management and the civilian employee union representation, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
The current collective agreement between the RCMP and PSAC expired in 2018, and since then, negotiations have been ongoing. Both parties have tabled their respective proposals, but a consensus is yet to be reached, leading to a labor dispute that has lasted for over three years now.
The main point of contention between the two groups is the salary structure. The RCMP argues that the existing salary structure is unsustainable and that the current proposal by PSAC, which includes a 5% annual increase in wages, is unreasonable. PSAC, on the other hand, argues that the proposed increase is necessary to address the significant pay gap between RCMP civilian members and other federal public service employees in similar positions.
The labor dispute has resulted in several demonstrations by the civilian employees, including a work-to-rule campaign that lasted several months. The campaign involved employees refusing to work overtime or perform any duties outside their job descriptions, leading to a backlog of work in some units.
The RCMP civilian members` collective agreement negotiation has far-reaching implications for the RCMP`s operations. For instance, the dispute has resulted in a delay in the implementation of the National DNA Data Bank, which depends on the civilian lab researchers. The delay has led to frustration from the RCMP management, who argue that the dispute is hampering their ability to perform their duties effectively.
In conclusion, the RCMP civilian members` collective agreement negotiation is an issue that has far-reaching implications for the RCMP`s operations. Both parties must find a common ground and reach an agreement that is satisfactory to all. The negotiations must be conducted in good faith, with priority given to the interests of both parties and the well-being of the civilians employed by the RCMP.