Update from the President of PAFSO for August 16, 2024

Dear members,

I am just back from leave, refreshed and ready to face what is always a busy period for us here in Ottawa. Not only are we in the thick of posting season, but this is also the last stretch going into the PAFSO Annual General Meeting, where we will discuss many important issues including our proposed budget and the strategic plan that will take us through the next three years.

For now, here’s a quick update on a few of the issues we’ve been dealing with.

GAC introduces a new policy on the length of assignments abroad
Two weeks ago, GAC announced in a broadcast message that it had developed a new policy on the length of assignments abroad.

In an effort to streamline and modernize the assignment process, and as part of the Employer’s Transformation Implementation Plan, it was announced that beginning in 2025, all assignments at missions rated hardship levels A, I and II will be 4 years in duration. Assignments at all other missions will be for 3 years. Two temporary exemptions will apply to missions with restrictions on accompanying dependants: unaccompanied mission assignments will be for 1 year, and assignments with no dependants under the age of 18 will be for 2 years.

You can get the full details by consulting “Policy on Length of Rotational Assignments” on Modus.

Although the devil will always be in the details, we are in agreement with the Employer on a number of points. Longer assignments mean greater predictability and stability for our members and their families. It also means smoother transitions and better staffing continuity at missions. Not to mention that this will go a long way in helping the department reach its cost savings goals.

The length of assignments clearly falls within management’s purview. And although we would have liked to have had more discussion before this policy change was announced, our view is that it represents a positive development for most rotational employees. As in all other areas, Individual needs for accommodation will need to be respected, so if you make such a request and believe it has been handled in an arbitrary, unsafe, or discriminatory manner, you can come to PAFSO for support. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds in practice when the policy comes into full effect next year.

Relocation of children and guardians out of Israel
Last Wednesday we learned of the Government’s decision to temporarily relocate the families of diplomats posted to Israel and Palestine over fears of an expanded war in the region.

Our thoughts are with all our members at Canada’s embassies in Tel Aviv, Beirut and the representative office in Ramallah, which remain fully operational at the time of writing. We believe in the power of diplomacy to bring about a peaceful resolution to this tumultuous situation.

Difficulties in getting answers on FSDs
Posting season is always a busy time, and a certain amount of chaos and uncertainty is an unfortunate fact of Foreign Service life. This year, however, PAFSO is receiving an unusually high number of requests for assistance from members who are scheduled to rotate within weeks or even days and cannot obtain clear answers from the relevant authorities at GAC. Understandably, this is causing stress and hardship for members and their families during an already disruptive process. As dedicated professionals who make numerous sacrifices to serve Canada and Canadians abroad, you deserve better.

This situation is unacceptable, and we are raising the issue with senior management. In the meantime, if you are facing such problems, I urge you to reach out to our office for assistance. Although we can’t provide authoritative guidance on matters of GAC responsibility, we can help with advice and support in getting the answers and decisions you need.

The 2024 AGM
I want to remind everyone that PAFSO’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will take place virtually on Monday October 21, at 4pm, Ottawa time. Those interested in participating in this year’s meeting are requested to send an email to agm-aga@pafso-apase.com with their name and department. Registered participants will receive a formal meeting invitation with the full agenda and all related documents at a date closer to the event.

This year, there are 3 Executive committee positions open.  There is one vacancy in the Political stream and one in the Trade stream. And we have another among members at large, who can be from any stream.

Nominations are open until August 31 at 5pm, Ottawa time. So, if you are interested in putting your name forward for one of these positions, you can find more information as well as the nomination form here on our website. You can also watch last year’s webinar on the role of the Executive Committee here on our YouTube channel.

Joining the Executive Committee is an excellent opportunity to bring your fresh perspectives to the future of our association and to take part the big decisions that will directly impact you and your colleagues. I look forward to seeing some new faces around the virtual table.

Randy Orr Memorial Award
I want to remind everyone that nominations for the annual Randy Orr Memorial Award are open until August 31. The Award which comes with a $1,000 prize, was established to honour our long-serving Executive Committee colleague who passed away in 2021. It was created to recognize exceptional volunteer service to our foreign service community. Nominations are open to anyone, including PAFSO members, families, and other colleagues, who has contributed, outside the framework of their paid employment, to improving life for those who serve Canada abroad. If you would like to nominate someone like that, please send an e-mail to info@pafso.com telling us who they are, what they have done, when, and why it made a difference. Your nomination should be supported by three people, including at least one current regular PAFSO member. The winner of the 2024 Randy Orr Memorial Award will be announced at our Annual General Meeting on October 21.

Well, that’s it for this week’s message. My next message to you will be on September 6, when I will have important news on other major issues, including our next steps in holding the employer accountable on the health care abroad fiasco.

For those of you caught up in the upheaval that is posting season, I wish you all the best for a smooth transition to your new assignments. And, as previously mentioned, should you encounter any issues, please know that we are here to help. Just send us an email describing the situation, and we will be pleased to assist you. And that goes for anything that may be causing you concern at work. Are you having issues with your pay? Do you feel harassed or discriminated against? Do you have a grievance or a staffing complaint? Or do you just want some clarifications on our collective agreement or the FSDs? Whatever the case, PAFSO is here for you. Just send us an email with your name, department and a detailed description of your concerns. For anything and everything else, please send us an email at info@pafso.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.

All the best,

Pam Isfeld
President
@PafsoPresApase