Unifor Council 4000 and Local 4002 meet with Winnipeg MP over Bill C-27
February 1, 2017
On Monday, January 16, 2016, Unifor Council 4000 Regional Representative Dave Kissack, along with Unifor Local 4002 Chairperson Fabien Bisson for VIA Rail Agreement 2, and Gary Dy, President of Unifor Local 4002 VIA Rail Pensioner’s Committee, met with Liberal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg St. Vital/St. Boniface Dan Vandal, to discuss their concerns with Bill C-27, an Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985.
The legislation, if passed, would allow for the retroactive conversion of defined benefit pension plans to target benefit plans for federally regulated employees, directly impacting Unifor members in rail, media, air transportation and telecommunication. |
MP Vandal listened to what they had to say regarding the negative impact of retroactive conversions of defined benefit plans to target benefit plans, but he maintained the party line for the bill, saying that “participation is on a voluntary basis” and therefore the legislation will not affect people in defined pensions.
“We explained that the legislation allows for employers to transfer pensions to an annuity thus depriving the Union of the ability to negotiate indexing increases”, explained Dave Kissack. “We see this legislation as a slippery slope which will erode on a go forward basis employer obligations towards long term solvency and administration on defined benefit plans and pensions in general”, said Kissack. They pointed out that even former Prime Minister Stephen Harper would not have gone as far as implementing this agenda.
Mr. Vandal committed in following up on this meeting when he goes back to Ottawa this month and said he will raise the Union’s concerns within the Liberal caucus. Kissack anticipates they will be meeting with him again in the near future.
Mr. Kissack went on to say; “I have also had discussions with and we will be meeting with NDP MP for Winnipeg Elmwood/Transcona, Daniel Blaikie, on March 1st at 10 am. His office contacted me on the issue as he is adamantly opposed to the bill and wishes to further discuss strategies in order that we can mount a campaign against it and get the public both educated and involved."
Local 4002 is currently mobilizing our pensioner’s committees from VIA Rail and CN to both meet with and write to their MP’s in regards to Bill C-27.
Related:
January 12, 2017 Retire Bill C-27! Protect our Pensions
“We explained that the legislation allows for employers to transfer pensions to an annuity thus depriving the Union of the ability to negotiate indexing increases”, explained Dave Kissack. “We see this legislation as a slippery slope which will erode on a go forward basis employer obligations towards long term solvency and administration on defined benefit plans and pensions in general”, said Kissack. They pointed out that even former Prime Minister Stephen Harper would not have gone as far as implementing this agenda.
Mr. Vandal committed in following up on this meeting when he goes back to Ottawa this month and said he will raise the Union’s concerns within the Liberal caucus. Kissack anticipates they will be meeting with him again in the near future.
Mr. Kissack went on to say; “I have also had discussions with and we will be meeting with NDP MP for Winnipeg Elmwood/Transcona, Daniel Blaikie, on March 1st at 10 am. His office contacted me on the issue as he is adamantly opposed to the bill and wishes to further discuss strategies in order that we can mount a campaign against it and get the public both educated and involved."
Local 4002 is currently mobilizing our pensioner’s committees from VIA Rail and CN to both meet with and write to their MP’s in regards to Bill C-27.
Related:
January 12, 2017 Retire Bill C-27! Protect our Pensions