#RemoteWorks update: Anita Anand BA letter response, PSAC rally August 8 and more
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As we approach the September 9 implementation date of the three-day in-office directive, here are several key developments related to our fight against this unreasonable and unfounded mandate.
Anita Anand’s response to NJC bargaining agent letter
After two and a half months, Anita Anand has provided a response to the letter that NJC bargaining agents sent to the government back in May. The letter expressed our collective opposition to the abrupt mandate requiring a three-day in-office presence for federal public servants eligible for hybrid work.
You may read Anita Anand’s response here: https://www.acfo-acaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Response-to-Dany-Richard-Bargaining-Agents.pdf
We have yet to receive a response to the letter from Prime Minister Trudeau or a response from Jagmeet Singh to our letter to him.
This response, or lack thereof, is deeply troubling. The legitimate concerns of tens of thousands of public servants with the new Direction deserve a much more meaningful acknowledgment and dialogue.
Despite this disappointing response, we will continue to advocate for a reasonable and flexible hybrid work model and an engaged response from the government.
August 8: PSAC rally at Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) National Capital Region Council is organizing a rally opposing the three-day in-office mandate at Les Terrasses de la Chaudière on Thursday, August 8, from 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET. They are encouraging attendees to arrive at 11:45 am, where following brief speeches at 12:00 at the main entrance of Les Terrasses de la Chaudière, they will be operating an information picket, passing out buttons and leaflets about the negative effects of the return to the office.
We encourage ACFO-ACAF members who wish to attend to do so, and ACFO-ACAF staff will be present to distribute #RemoteWorks signs and bumper stickers. With strength in numbers, the collective voice of the CT Community can only be powerful if we all show up and stand together.
#RemoteWorks website: Your stories added
After we asked the CT Community to share their stories related to the impact and hardships brought on by the three-day in-office mandate, many of you revealed significant challenges with the logistical and financial burdens, disrupted work-life balance, and increased stress. Employees with childcare responsibilities or specific healthcare needs showed how the mandate will be particularly difficult for them, with some even considering leaving their jobs. These personal accounts highlight the negative impacts of the mandate on their productivity and their lives.
To read all the stories shared, learn more about their experiences, or to share your story, visit our #RemoteWorks website here: https://remote-works.ca/your-stories/
More #RemoteWorks developments to come
We will continue to update the CT Community on additional activities that are organized throughout the summer and when mediation around our ULO complaint is complete.
In the meantime, the CT Community needs to stay engaged, attend rallies like the upcoming PSAC event, and continue sharing their stories to amplify our collective voice. Our success depends on your participation, so let us demonstrate our unity and determination to achieve a fair and flexible working environment for the federal public service.