TB Vote FAQ

Here are some questions and answers about the Treasury Board vote process

• Why did things change? We usually have large, multi-local meetings to conduct the vote?
• Now that the strike is over, can't we return to the original plan?
• Isn't it PSAC's responsibility to organize and conduct the votes?
• How can we conduct the vote for our Local, our Local has many worksites all over the Province!
• I have isolated members scattered all over, how can I ballot them?
• My Local has spent all of our existing funds on strike pay, and can't afford to mail packages or rent a meeting room. Will PSAC help offset the expenses?
• How can my Local get a guest speaker for our meeting?
• I belong to a national local that is headquartered in Ottawa. How will I be able to vote?
• Can my local advertise its meeting details on the regional website?
• Are we expected to get this done by the end of the year?
• Will the PSAC Office still do a drop-in vote day?

Why did things change? We usually have large, multi-local meetings to conduct the vote?

On November 28th, negotiations between the PSAC and one of the staff unions, AEU, broke down.  Strike action began the morning of the 29th.  The PSAC Vancouver Regional Office was closed due to a picket line.   Members of the staff who were not in a legal strike position were given the option to work from home or from an alternate site.  The PSAC as an employer also gave staff the option to not work in support of AEU, which was a right that a large number of staff at the Vancouver RO exercised during the dispute.

Given the potential for picket lines at ratification vote meetings, along with the fact that there was a minimum number of staff working, returning the voting process to the Locals seemed to be the best option to ensure that the votes concluded within the national timeframes.  Our largest concern was the potential for postponing the vote period and the impact that would have on PSAC Members in B.C.

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Now that the strike is over, can't we return to the original plan?

At the beginning of the labour dispute with AEU, we had to make a decision regarding the voting process. Many of our large meetings were scheduled for this week, December 6-10. With no end to the labour dispute in sight, and almost all of our Vancouver R.O. staff opting to not work in solidarity with AEU, the decision was made that in order to protect the timelines of the ratification vote (not delay ratification for members), that we would turn the responsibility of conducting the vote back over to the Local.

We are relieved that the strike is now over; however, many Locals have already begun the balloting process, so it is too late to revisit the decision.

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Isn't it PSAC's responsibility to organize and conduct the votes?

The PSAC Constitution says that conducting ratification votes is the responsibility of the Local. For the last number of rounds, the PSAC in B.C. has organized multi-local vote meetings as a means to build solidarity between locals and foster regionalization. Although that has been our practice in B.C., it is not a constitutional requirement.   We recognize the value in those meetings, and it would have been our preference to continue with them for this round as well.

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How can we conduct the vote for our Local, our Local has many worksites all over the Province!

Province wide and Locals with numerous worksites are a challenge.  PSAC Regional Reps can help you determine the best method for balloting your members.  Many Locals will use their steward networks or strike captains as contact points for each building.  Stewards and strike captains can be provided with the voting materials for their sites and conduct the vote for the members there.  The vote materials are then returned to the Local President for a final tabulation before submitting the results to the Regional Office.

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I have isolated members scattered all over, how can I ballot them?

Members that are isolated should be provided with a mail-in ballot.  Those Locals that have isolated members have been provided with inner and outer ballot envelopes.  Members in isolated areas should be provided with the voting kit (booklet), a ballot, inner and outer envelope and a memo from the Local.  Those isolated members can return their ballots directly to our office and we will include them with the final count.   If you didn't receive ballot envelopes, or, you need more, please contact the PSAC Regional Office and we will provide them.

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My Local has spent all of our existing funds on strike pay, and can't afford to mail packages or rent a meeting room. Will PSAC help offset the expenses?
We will look at assistance to Locals on a case-by-case basis.   Requests for assistance should be sent to Joanna Schultz, the A/Regional Coordinator for B.C.

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How can my Local get a guest speaker for our meeting?

A list of B.C. Negotiating Team Members and their contact information has been provided to each Local.  Negotiating Team members are eager to attend your meetings; we encourage Locals to contact them directly.  If a Negotiating Team member is unavailable, REVP Patty Ducharme may be available in January to speak at your meeting.  Also, you can always contact your Component Regional and National Officers as well.

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I belong to a national local that is headquartered in Ottawa. How will I be able to vote?
Please contact the PSAC office and provide us with your name and Local number.  We will get a copy of the membership list and be able to assist in ensuring you are able to vote.

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Can my local advertise its meeting details on the regional website?

Absolutely!  Please send any meeting details to our Secretary, Patrick Bragg, and he will post them on the regional website.

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Are we expected to get this done by the end of the year?
No!  We are not counting the ballots until January 24, 2005, so there is plenty of time to conduct the vote.

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Will the PSAC Office still do a drop-in vote day?

Yes.  Given the unique circumstances of this round, we will offer two full days of drop-in voting at the Vancouver RO.  Members who were unable to vote at a Local meeting can come to the PSAC Office on January 20 or 21st, between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to cast their ballot.  The office is located at #200-5238 Joyce Street in Vancouver, 1 block south of the Joyce Street Skytrain station.

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