Welcome to our campaign update. We will be posting this regularly as we continue to highlight UVAE members’ concerns and report to you on the campaign to slow down contracting out in Veteran Affairs Canada. Send us your thoughts, ideas and feedback. Together we will win!
Continue reading “Uncover the costs: UVAE Newsletter”Union denounces delays in providing rehabilitation services to veterans
The Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees feels that Veterans Affairs Canada’s new private care provider does not have a pool of professionals sufficient to meet demand. UVAE translation of Un syndicat dénonce des retards dans l’offre de soins de réadaptation aux vétérans
The Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees denounces the slowness of the processing of the files of veterans who need rehabilitation services.
The union blames the delays on bad management by Partners in Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services, external provider responsible for offering specialized care.
“There are veterans with physical and mental health needs […] who have not received care for over a year now.”
Simon Renaud, spokesperson for the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees
According to Simon Renaud, spokesperson for the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees and Eastern Quebec Local President, wait times for access to care can be from four months to one year.
Wait times for access to care may reach one year for some veterans, said Simon Renaud, spokesperson for the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees and Eastern Quebec Local President.
This situation is due to several factors, he said.
“The logistics [of the process of transition to the new provider] was inadequate, and employees of the new provider were not and still are not trained to deal with some things”, added Simon Renaud.
For the union, the new private care provider chosen by Veterans Affairs Canada does not have a large enough pool of professionals to meet demand.
One of the weaknesses is that the provider should have had a pool of psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other professionals capable of offering care rapidly to veterans and their families when they began to deliver the project but they started from scratch, added Simon Renaud.
Departmental employees must wait for the new provider to process requests before following up with veterans, added the union.
According to former Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAuley, transition to the new private contractor was supposed to alleviate the workload of case managers within the Department. (Archival photo)
In June 2021, Partners in Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services signed a $570 million contract with the federal government for the provision of care to veterans.
The provider is the result of a partnership between two companies, WCG International and Lifemark Health Group, a subsidiary of Loblaws.
The Department of Veterans Affairs always underlined that the transition to a private contractor was to alleviate the workload of case managers working for the Department and allow veterans to access a national network of care providers. Over 12,000 veterans throughout Canada applied for care under the rehabilitation program, according to the Department.
A reasonable wait time, says Ottawa
In a statement sent to Radio-Canada, the Department of Veterans Affairs stated that case processing times are reasonable and that the wait to receive care depends on the complexity of the case.
“Veterans continue to receive timely services and support”, reads the message sent by email.
The Department stressed that 85% of the files have already been transferred to the new contractor, which represents about 10,500 recipients.
The transition started last year.
As for the catalog of specialist professionals, the Department stresses that the contractor has a national network of over 12,000 professionals working in the rehabilitation field.
“The provider actively recruits according to a progressive strategy supporting its commitment to offer high quality services. Health professionals are very much in demand throughout the country in many institutions and fields”, added the Department.
In late July, Ginette Petitpas-Taylor became Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. (Archival photo)
More dialogue
Simon Renaud is asking new Minister of Veterans Affairs Ginette Petitpas-Taylor for better communications with the members of the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees.
“It is essential to sit down soon and often with the union in order to put in place solutions considering the concerns and demands of both the Department’s case managers and the people who work for the new provider”, he added.
The union leader claims that case managers who are members of his organization were not consulted during the development or implementation of the project.
The Department, on the other hand, claims that case managers were consulted.
“The consultations were carried out through an online platform, the Advisory Group on Mental Health and in-person meetings. […] We can and will continue to hold consultations and provide information based on the feedback that we receive”, added the Department.
UVAE’s 2023 Scholarships
We are writing to advise you that the UVAE’s 2023 Scholarships application process is now open.
UVAE offers members in good standing in post-secondary studies or their child going to College or University or a Trade School one (1) of five (5) scholarships for 2023 up to a maximum expenditure of $5000.00 in Scholarships.
Each scholarship for 2023 will be in the amount of up to $1,000.00 (one thousand) and the deadline for submission of scholarship applications is August 1, 2023.
Scholarships will be awarded primarily based on the merit of a 500 – 800 – word essay according to the essay topic determined for the given year, as well as on the applicant’s grades, volunteer, and extracurricular activities.
This year, UVAE’s National Executive Officers have chosen two (2) essay topics for applicants to choose one (1) from. The essay topics to choose from this year are:
- Explore the Role of Truth and Reconciliation in Advancing Indigenous Rights within the Canadian Union Movement: Challenges, Progress, and Future Directions.
- To what extent have unions and strikes been effective in addressing labor issues and promoting workers’ rights in the 21st century?
For more information on the UVAE Scholarships for 2023 and the supporting documents required to be submitted with the scholarship application, please go to our website – https://uvae-seac.ca/member-benefits/scholarships/
In Solidarity,
National President
Tentative Agreement and Ratification Votes
Members have been asking what UVAE’s position is and what we recommend in relation to the current tentative agreement that members will soon be voting on through PSAC.
UVAE supports the Bargaining Teams recommendation to accept the tentative offers for PA, SV, TC and EB. The bargaining teams have been working hard over 2 plus years to get this tentative agreement from the Treasury Board.
UVAE does not tell members how to vote, members have the right to vote how they want on the ratification of the tentative agreement and what UVAE notes is the importance for members to take the time to fully review the Ratification Kit and attend a Q & A session that PSAC is organizing if you still have questions on the Tentative Agreement vote.
Ratification votes for PSAC members in the four Treasury Board groups will begin on May 24 and end on June 16 at noon ET.
In order for PSAC members to receive their new rates of pay, retroactive pay, and lump sum payment, the new agreements must first be ratified. To ensure this ratification process is done as quickly as possible, PSAC will be conducting an expedited ratification process. The ratification votes will be conducted using the same online voting platform used for strike votes earlier this year.
- Review the ratification kit for your group: PA | SV | TC | EB
- Read the tentative agreement and ratification vote FAQ
Below is the link to PSAC’s website regarding the upcoming Ratification Votes; How to Vote; Q & A Sessions both virtually and in person (in person sessions are only available in some areas), the PA, SV, TC and EB session dates. Please go to PSAC’s website using the link below for information on when each of the ratification sessions will be held.
These sessions will be held over Zoom, and registration will open on May 24.
In Solidarity,
Virginia Vaillancourt