PSAC is urging members who are thinking of volunteering for early retirement to wait until the work force adjustment process proceeds under the terms of their collective agreement. The union also urges members to talk to their union representative before making any decisions about whether to retire or volunteer before they have been declared surplus.
Employers in some departments and agencies are seeking “volunteers” to leave ahead of workforce adjustments. The PSAC supports the process of volunteering, but says that it needs to be carried out through the process outlined in the collective agreement.
Under the Workforce Adjustment provisions, if an employee receives a letter stating that his or her “services may no longer be required because of a workforce adjustment situation” this means they are an “affected” employee. Specific individuals, groups of workers or whole sections or programs can receive these notices. It doesn't necessarily mean that your employment will end. This notice gives you a “heads up” that there might be changes for you down the road. The affected notice differs from a “surplus” notice. A surplus notice advises that your job will cease to exist, and then there are a number of possible options open to you under the collective agreement.
The alternation process is an important part of the Workforce Adjustment provisions. The alternation process involves the creation of a list of volunteers who wish to swap places with surplus employees. Surplus employees whose positions are being eliminated may then trade positions with these volunteers.
Under the terms of the collective agreement, those who volunteer for alternation are entitled to the same benefits that a “surplus” employee would receive, i.e. severance, transition support measures, education allowances, etc. Some employees are also eligible to retire early without penalty in a workforce adjustment situation.
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