SP Group Signs Collective Agreement On May 15, 2017, the Institute and the employer signed the SP collective agreement. This marks the conclusion of a successful and historic round of bargaining that met not only our members’ professional and economic needs but also resolved several long-standing demands and made major progress on our public interest bargaining issues. The employer has 90 days from the signature date to implement retroactive pay. The work on a procedure to co-develop Scientific Integrity policies has begun for our departments and agencies in consultation with the employer. Today’s signing of the SP Group collective agreement follows the group’s ratification in March 2017 of the tentative agreement reached with the employer in December 2016. Key elements include: a new clause dealing with the right of members to speak about science and their research without being designated as a departmental spokesperson. (This was a central part of our strategy and is a historic and unprecedented achievement.) a memorandum of agreement committing departments with more than 10 RE or SP members to develop their own Scientific Integrity Policies and Procedures in consultation with PIPSC in the coming months. (This represents a historic opportunity for our members to co-develop science policy within their departments.) a long-term goal of harmonizing the AG-BI-CH pay line with the PC pay line. (This goal was derived from a mandate given on multiple occasions in SP meetings.) an agreement on changes to the shift work language that better protects PIPSC members. (This is a long-fought victory.) a general 5 per cent increase for all members over the life of the agreement, along with significant market-based adjustments for many professions. We will of course continue to push Treasury Board for further improvements in the next round of bargaining. The Institute thanks members for their solidarity and support throughout the course of these tough negotiations. Although we have made significant progress, we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us. For many members, negotiations continue. The Institute will continue to fight to achieve improvements in collective agreements for all our members. It is important that all members continue to stand together in solidarity to support each other. Together we are strong. Seated: Debi Daviau, PIPSC President, and Sandra Hassan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations, Treasury Board Secretariat Standing (left to right): Kevin Doyle (Treasury Board), Martine Sigouin (Treasury Board), Jean-Luc Arpin (Treasury Board), Ben Davis (Treasury Board), Joanne St-Coeur (Treasury Board), Ted Leindecker (Treasury Board), Adam Poch (Treasury Board), Waheed Khan (SP), Bryan Van Wilgenburg (SP), Enzo Barresi (SP Bargaining Team Coordinator), Ryan Campbell (PIPSC Research Officer), Thomas Landry (SP Group President), Marcie Schultz (SP)

