To All Members
Judge
rules 128 government documents admissible in evidence
Ontario Superior Court
Justice de Lobe Panet has ruled that 128 government documents will be
allowed as key evidence in the court battle being waged by the Council and
17 other unions and pensioner groups on behalf of existing and retired
public service employees across Canada.
This favourable decision is very important in the pursuit of justice
for pension plan members and is another victory in the court battle being
waged with the Federal Government of Canada over its self-serving
expropriation of the $30 billion surplus from the federal public service
pension surplus in 1999.
This significant ruling will result in a case-management conference
being held with the Judge over the next few weeks to schedule dates for
the remainder of the trial. It is our hope the trial will be conducted on
the merits of the case and that, barring further delaying tactics by the
federal government, it will resume in early spring.
National Joint Council Travel Directive
The cyclical review of the NC Travel Directive is almost upon us. For those of you that travel on behalf of the Government now is the time to put in your suggestions for improvement to the directive. Please forward your input to the Council office no later than the 22 of Feb. I apologize for the short notice, however the call for input was unexpectedly delayed.
Protective Footwear
As many of you know, there is a new Treasury Board Policy regarding Protective Footwear. The Department has been consulting with the National Bargaining Agents and in fact the issue was discussed at the National Health and Safety Policy Committee held last week in Ottawa. I am hoping to see a finalized policy in place by the end of the month if not sooner. In the interim, do not put yourself in harms way if you require new footwear, but if you can wait I would suggest doing so until we have this issue finalized.
Fraternally Yours
Hugh Price
President