Dear members,
There are a few items I want to catch you up on in this message, but I have to jump right in with a really big piece of news.
The NJC publishes the new FSDs
They’re finally here. After several long and drawn-out years, the new FSDs, set to come into effect on 1 April, have been published on the National Joint Council’s website. I know many of you have been waiting for these for a very long time. On our end, this represents the culmination of a huge amount of work that began in earnest in late 2022. Once again, I would like to extend a big thanks to PAFSO’s FSD Negotiator, Paul Raven, and Logan McNamara from the Executive Committee, for their hard work and dedication on this file. These new provisions contain some major improvements including increased flexibility on travel, enhanced support for children with disabilities, and streamlined processes for establishing the status of common law partners and adult dependents.
As I mentioned before, Paul and I have set up two information sessions over the next two weeks to walk you through some of the more significant changes to the directives. The first session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 1800, Ottawa time. If that time slot is not convenient for you, the second session is will take place the following week on Tuesday, March 18 at 1200, Ottawa time. Click the links above to register for the session that suits you best. For those who won’t be able to make it to either session, our plan is to have a recording of one of the sessions up on our YouTube channel shortly afterwards. I will let you know once this is available.
In the meantime, I invite you to have a look through the new directives. And should you have any specific questions about the cyclical review process, you can email them to info@pafso.com and Paul will do his best to answer them in our sessions. Please note, however, that Paul will not be able to get into the details of personal scenarios at these sessions.
bout de papier volume 33, number 2 is out!
The latest issue of bout de papier is out and available online! Once again, our flagship magazine is teeming with great articles. The main feature is a piece by former MP Svend Robinson taking an in-depth look at the LGBT purges in External Affairs. This latest issue also features an article by Kate Mackenzie on the FS spouse experience, Lisa Bitto’s recipe for the perfect pizza, an “exit interview” with former FS Robin Wettlaufer, my op-ed on the MSH International crisis, a look back at the over-forty years of bout de papier, book reviews and excerpts, and a whole lot more.
Visit the bout de papier website to read the articles online. Or, if you prefer, you can download the PDF edition through this link.
We’re looking for contributors to our 60th anniversary book, “Dip Notes”
Currently, there is no book out there that truly captures the essence of the working life of a 21st century Foreign Service Officer – their careers, the impacts on their families, and the value they bring to Canadians. “Dip Notes” will change that.
“Dip Notes” will be a collection of original essays, interviews and other materials from bout de papier which will illustrate key moments in the history of the Foreign Service group. We are inviting all members to contribute their stories, insights, and reflections on life in the Canadian Foreign Service. Whether you’ve been an FS for decades, or are at the beginning of your career, we eant your perspective. “Dip Notes” will represent a diverse range of voices focusing on historical events, interesting or underappreciated aspects of FS life, and more personal stories about the challenges of living and working abroad.
If you are interested in being a part of this project commemorating PAFSO and the Canadian Foreign Service, you can get more information here on our website.
PAFSO 60 and Nominations for the Diamond Jubilee Award
Speaking of our 60th anniversary, nominations for our PAFSO 60 Diamond Jubilee Award will be closing on April 4, 2025. There’s just under one month left to nominate a deserving colleague for their outstanding work either in a specific circumstance or throughout their whole career. Find out more about the award and the nominations process here on our site.
Also, the final preparations are being made to our 60th anniversary gala evening, and tickets will soon be available for sale. I just want to let everyone know that our space at the National Gallery will be limited. We will have only a set number of tickets available. As soon as they are available for purchase, I will let you know.
The Impact of Work-Related Mobility on Mental Health and Family Life
I have been asked to share with you an invitation from the Canadian Innovation Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace to their upcoming session on the impacts of rotational work on mental health and family life. Presented by Barbara Neis, the discussion will touch on what is known about work-related mobility and its potential benefits and challenges for workers and their family lives, including its relevance for mental health, loneliness and work-life balance. This will be followed by a discussion of potential strategies for reducing the negative impacts of extended and complex work-related mobility and offer a list of resources for further reading and reflection.
This virtual session takes place on Tuesday, March 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To participate, you will need to register via this link before 1:00 p.m. on March 18.
That’s all I have for you for this week’s message. I’m sure I’ll see many of you at either of our upcoming FSD briefings.
In the meantime, you can always reach out to us if you are having issues with your pay; if you feel harassed or discriminated against; if you have a grievance or a staffing complaint; or if you simply need some clarifications on our collective agreement of the FSDs. We’re here for you. Just send us an email with your name, department and a detailed description of your concerns and we’ll put you in touch with our Labour Relations team. For anything and everything else, just email info@pafso.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
My next message to you will be on Friday, March 21, the first day of spring (one can always hope). Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.
All the best,
Pam Isfeld
President
@PafsoPresApase