September 12-13, 2022

Firefighter Committee Minutes

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022

FR Steering Committee Minutes

Meeting Dates: 12-13 September 2022, Ottawa Sheraton

 

Participants:

Bryan Meakin – OPI

Brendalee Blaney – FR Staff Resource

Joel Hildebrand – Alberta & the North

Jordan Rinehart – Newfoundland, Labrador & New Brunswick

James Leblanc – Nova Scotia

Ben Godin – Ontario

Steeve Grandbois – Québec

Josh Peterson – British Columbia

Rick Desaultes – Manitoba and Saskatchewan

 

Day 1

  1. Harassment Statement was read by OPI and introductions were made by the committee.

 

  1. FR Terms of reference was discussed.
    1. Minor change to the Roles and responsibilities were agreed upon.
    2. Discussion on amending the Committee members from a Regional representative to including a representative from each firehall occurred.
    3. To change representation from 1 member per region to 1 member per Local, a proposal will need to be written and presented at the National Executive for review/approval.

 

  1. UNDE National President June Winger addressed the committee members from 0930 to 1120.
    1. Bargaining – Presenting bargaining demands to the PIC with outstanding issues.
    2. Economic increase and request for arbitration with the FR’s.
    3. FR OPI should be informed of the issues at the firehalls.
    4. Staffing – National is not seeing staffing concerned addressed in the Local LMCC minutes. First step is to have those discussions at the Local level.
      1. Staffing/Vacancy reports should be a standing agenda item at the LMCC’s.
      2. Vacancy management reports will show what the staffing process will be, classification, etc. It also allows for LMCC members to track vacant positions.
  • The staffing office are to provide the reports.
  1. In order to push staffing concerns, National requires the supporting documentation/information (how long the position is vacant, what was the process, etc) to bring forward agenda items with the appropriate National counterparts.
  2. LMCC discussions on staffing need to be documented in official minutes. If the discussion is not presented, then minutes should not be signed off.
  3. Once minutes are signed off, forward to your VP, FR OPI and Brendalee Blaney.
  1. UNDE has UMCC training, may be requested through the VP of the Region.
  2. Discussions on the excessive amount of overtime was had. Concerns with staffing (or lack thereof), and excessive OT needs to be raised at the Local UMCC initially.  If the issue is not resolved, then VP’s of the region and FR OPI need to be informed to move the concerns to National to bring forward to the Deputy Minister.
  3. ABN questioned why each firehall is not their own Local. Locals are not created due to the lack of activism/participation.  A number of Locals put forward requests to create their own local and were not approved at the National Executive.  Splitting a Local needs to show that the Local is strong and engaged and it would be a benefit to have a separate FR Local.
  4. Connie Lussier and Charlotte Mchattie joined the committee after lunch to discuss pay issues, EDP and Acting.
    1. It was stated that many members are refusing acting pay due to potential Phoenix issues and the length of time it takes to pay acting pay.
    2. Stated that compensation who are working only on FR pay issues are achieving their timelines.
  • Members not accepting acting pay does not allow compensation to fix the issues. As acting pay issues are not been taken, case numbers are going down and compensation are not receiving accurate numbers.
  1. Issues can be sent to Lussier and her team.
  1. Seth Sazant and James Infantino from PSAC spoke to the committee on pension and disability.
    1. PSPAC (Public Service Pension Advisory Committee) timelines (since 2003) to September 15, 2022, was included in the Presentation.
    2. Age of retirement for FR’s has become the same as DND over the last few years.
  • PSPAC subcommittee was meeting September 15th and a decision on recommendations to be presented to the Minister may be made.
  1. Recommendations will likely become political. Lobbying Local MP’s and Treasury Board will be needed.

 

  1. Petersen presented the Employment Equity Act study conducted during his Independent Learning Program.

 

  1. Close of day 1

 

 

Day 2

 

  1. OPI discussed meeting with CFFM’s Office, Health Canada and Cdr Jones
    1. Health Canada spoke on research on PFOS and PFAS
    2. Handwashing (soap and water) after exposure proved to be more efficient than using various sanitation wipes.
    3. Review of bunker gear is on-going.
    4. Research looking at cancer incidences and firefighting.
    5. Canadian studies are provincial based and looking at conducting research on DND (military and civilian) FR’s specifically.
    6. Looking at creating a pool of civilian FR’s to participate in the study.
    7. Still in very early discussions and planning.

 

 

  1. FR Wellness Committee
    1. Meetings re-started in 2022. Two meetings have occurred; however, FR OPI nor FR Resource Person were not invited to attend.   Recordings of the first two meetings were sent to OPI; however, there has not been time to review/watch.
    2. It has been noted that the Terms of Reference needs to be followed (UNDE members appointed UNDE, participants as per outlined in the ToR).
    3. Rumoured that the Fitness tests are been reviewed again.

 

  1. Medical Discussion
    1. Question on Health Canada going to various locations to perform medicals was asked. Wainwright, Gagetown have HC come to their location; however, are allowed to see their own physician.  Petawawa members can see HC reps at the Base Hospital, Valcartier goes to the HC office, & Halifax goes to the HC Building.
    2. Forms filled out by HC are not worthwhile. Just a box checkoff.
    3. The committee felt that the physicals/medicals are not consistent and may give members a false sense of security as the tests do not go in depth.

 

  1. CFFM’s Visit
    1. CFFM LCol Caitlyn Vos and Deputy CFFM Ben Gagne addressed the committee.
    2. The CFFM Mandate and Roles and Responsibilities were discussed.
    3. Clothing Trials
      1. Criteria of clothing was established (comfort, durability, practicality, functionality, and compatibility).
      2. Suppliers were vetted.
  • Products were compared.
  1. Trial has recently concluded.
  2. Results expected shortly.
  1. UCR report on equipment/buildings will help to support changes, 663 reports as well. Doing these makes the issues seen outside of the local base level.
  2. ADM mat was deleting UCR’s, CFFM wants a copy of UCR’s for accountability.

 

  1. Q&A’s (Copied direct from PowerPoint)
    1. Halls are Not properly set up for carcinogen reduction, Nederman system never worked properly. Will other trucks get Ward System?
      1. Ward phase 2 being contracted (22 vehicles in phase 2) plus all new vehicles “spec” with the system. (100% funded by CFFM).
      2. FMD 1020 is pending final review and translation. This document will provide the guidance to fully implement the required actions to reduce exposure.
    2. Not enough room for required manning. Sleeping quarters, kitchen, office space.
      1. This should be addressed through local safety meeting and noted within the compliance review visit. CFFM’s Office would welcome location affected to validate with our Compliance review officer.
    3. SWE for missing/vacant positions but no hiring happening.
      1. Very common lately; This should be addressed through CoC and should be prioritize as this cost prohibitive and cause increased pressure on personnel constantly asked to do OT

 

  1. Transfers from hall to hall need to be streamlined especially if going to national pool, not take 30 months.
    1. Definitely linked to decentralization of HR-CIV and SWE missing for vacant position. Situation Table should be the right place to address the issue as a DND asset is far more qualified than an external candidate.
  2. Mental Health crises, R2MR is not enough, is there more? OSI MAP.
    1. We have engaged PSP to revive both R2MR and the Carcinogen program in updating and innovating on subject. Also, a SME is being consulted on way forward. PSP Survey ongoing… There are a few questions on the subject.
  3. Reviewing the discussions on the CFFM Audits and lack of action from Bases/Wings to comply.
    1. The compliance Review program has been on “snooze” for the last 24 -30 months. We have a new CR officer starting in October 2022 that also has the mandate to focus not only on visit but increase the follow ups on issues found during visit.
    2. CFFM also looking into possible annual report on the entire spectrum of activities including performance metrics on action completed following CR visit

 

  1. Bargaining Update
    1. Mathieu Brûlé and Darren Pacione from PSAC, and Jason Elder (virtual) addressed the committee.
    2. Mediation has been set for October. After mediation, then demands will go to the PIC (Public Interest Commission).
    3. James and Seth discussed Mutual Aid agreements and have requested copies to be sent to them to assist in bargaining.
    4. Provide actual overtime numbers and costs to Darren. This information can be presented at any time during the bargaining process.

 

  1. End of Session