16 April 2012
On March 31, I provided members with an initial analysis of the potential ramifications of the 2012 federal budget on the Foreign Service group.
As a result of meetings with officials at DFAIT and CIC over the last week, PAFSO is able to provide some additional updates and clarifications.
I. WORK FORCE ADJUSTMENTS
CIC
On April 11, we received the excellent news that CIC senior management does not foresee issuing any “affected” letters to FS officers in the immigration stream. While this does not preclude the elimination of some FS positions, it does appear to signal that no FS employees will see their status impacted by CIC’s 5.3% budget cut. Given the extensive reductions reported elsewhere in CIC (283 total position cuts) and CBSA, this development underscores the effectiveness, efficiency, and importance of the FS group in delivering on the Government’s citizenship and immigration agenda – as well as the need for sensitivity and discretion in dealing with fellow employees who have been affected and are facing a difficult period ahead.
Of interest, CIC management also confirmed that up to 11 visa offices abroad may be closed in the year ahead. Relevant FS personnel will be redeployed elsewhere. No further details were provided.
DFAIT
Senior management has said they will need until the end of April to determine the full impact of Budget 2012 on the department’s Canada-based workforce, at which point additional town hall meetings will be convened building on those of April 2 and 3. They have noted that assessing the impact on pool-managed employees (FS, MCO, EC, CO, FSITP, FSAA) is particularly complex and time-consuming.
That said, the Human Resources Branch has spent nearly a year preparing the FS pool to absorb a potentially significant hit by freezing appointments and promotions, cancelling a FS-03 competition, keeping some positions vacant, and assigning employees to FS positions on a temporary basis – all while encouraging retirements among those with the requisite years of pensionable service. These measures have allowed DFAIT to maximize its staffing flexibility with respect to the FS pool, and PAFSO continues to hope that any FS position cutbacks will not require matching cuts to the pool of FS employees. While this may result in cancelled postings, short-term assignments in less-desirable positions, or delays in career progression, PAFSO’s view is that such measures are still preferable to any work force adjustments – provided they are temporary. We will keep you closely apprised of any developments.
Of note, media reports indicate that at least 53 affected letters have been issued to DFAIT employees in the CO and CR groups and another 21 to those in the AS and PSAC-represented groups – mainly in Regional Offices.
II. DURATION OF POSTINGS
The development of new posting duration standards will only be undertaken for DFAIT employees, not CIC.
At DFAIT, no decisions have yet been taken on which assignments will be affected – except that any employees scheduled to leave their post in summer 2012 will do so as planned. We are told that the guiding principle of any new standard will be to minimize adverse impacts on career progression and ensure officers are able to log the requisite time at both HQ (where time spent will likely increase to match the longer postings) and abroad. We are assured by the Human Resources Branch that any changes to assignment guidelines will strive above all to be reasonable, fair, and give due consideration to the expectation of rotationality to which all FS officers commit when hired.
III. FOREIGN SERVICE DIRECTIVES
In his April 2 town hall, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that there will be no short-term changes to the provisions of the FSDs, which are negotiated (not legislated) by all bargaining agents and the Treasury Board through the National Joint Council, and apply to all members of the core public service posted abroad, not just members of DFAIT and CIC. He did, however, note that this does not preclude “changes to the administration of procedures and policies” related to the FSDs which fall within the discretion of the Deputy Head.
Eight days later, staff were advised by broadcast Administrative Notice of a change to vehicle shipment/storage whereby employees will now be given the option of either shipping a vehicle at Crown expense or storing a vehicle at Crown expense, but not both. While PAFSO does not find this particularly problematic (employees already abroad will be grandfathered), we will rely on the assistance of members in the months ahead in notifying PAFSO’s FSD Advisor (george.clayburn@pafso-apase.com) of any apparent changes to the way FSDs are administered which might negatively impact our members.
Finally, PAFSO continues to believe that the FSDs would not have been singled out in Budget 2012 if the Government was not seeking to realize long-term cost savings. With the standard triennial cyclical review of the FSDs falling in 2012, the Employer may use the opportunity to reduce the pool of funds available, which would impose an effective cut on the compensation received by Foreign Service officers for their uniquely challenging conditions of service. Again, we will follow this issue closely and keep you apprised.
IV. PRIVATE LEASING OF ACCOMMODATIONS
As announced on April 10, the Government is introducing private (i.e. personal) leasing of accommodations by Crown servants posted to select cities in Western Europe starting summer 2012. Depending on the success of the initiative, this approach may be introduced to additional non- or low-hardship locations in future years.
This measure will not apply to all outbound personnel, but will rather depend on the stock of available Crown-owned and -leased SQs at the post in question. As with officers posted to the United States, the Employer may fund a househunting trip where appropriate and cost-effective, though this will be applied on a case-by-case basis. The Employer will also cover certain fit-up costs where necessary – for example, white goods and electronics in 220-240V countries – and supplement personal furnishings with existing Crown-owned furniture stock at post. Employees will be responsible for dealing directly with their local landlord on matters where they would have previously contacted the mission’s Administration Section.
We are told that staff already at post will not be relocated mid-posting from their current SQ into privately-leased quarters.
V. RENT CEILINGS
Another measure contained in Budget 2012 is that employees in both privately- and Crown-leased accommodations will see a decrease in the maximum rent ceiling which posts are authorized to spend. While this measure will apply globally, the exact drop will vary according to local market conditions. We have been assured that these lowered standards will still allow the Government to honour its long-standing commitment to providing “accommodations comparable to an average fully serviced rental home normally occupied by a person of a similar salary and family configuration in the National Capital Region”.
The proof will lie in the implementation, and we urge members to contact PAFSO in cases where these new standards lead to an unacceptably low quality of living conditions, especially with respect to proximity to schools/daycare/workplace, amenities, sanitation, or personal safety/security. We also ask members to advise us of any negative impacts on operational effectiveness or ability to provide services to Canadians.
VI. REDUCTIONS TO VEHICLE FLEET
DFAIT intends to eliminate an unspecified but significant number of cars from its ~400-vehicle international fleet. PAFSO has been assured that armoured and utility vehicles are excluded from this cost-cutting process, and reductions will only be done in locations where safe and convenient transportation alternatives exist. Again, we ask members to advise PAFSO when these measures have a negative effect on personal security or operational effectiveness.
VII. MISSION CLOSURES / SALE OF OFFICIAL RESIDENCES
PAFSO has not been provided any information on potential mission closures beyond what what contained in DFAIT’s April 13 announcement of the elimination of seven Regional Offices within Canada.
Of note, the $80m which the Government intends to raise through OR sales will be applied against the Government’s capital expenditures and not count toward the $168m in savings imposed on DFAIT in Budget 2012. This has serious ramifications for the department’s operations and maintenance budget – ramifications which have not all yet been revealed. PAFSO will be closely monitoring the potential impact on the living conditions and working methods of FS officers, particularly at post.
Tim Edwards
President