For the last ten years, USJE Regional Vice-Presidents (RVPs) have been appointed as members on the RCMP’s National Policy Health and Safety Committee (NPHSC). For most of those years, not only did USJE RVPs sit on this committee, they were often the co-chair of the committee.
The NPHSC’s mandate is to be the principal forum for employee-management consultation on public service occupational health and safety issues with goals of prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses, and the promotion of a healthy and safe work environment. While not a decision-making body, the Committee provides national health and safety leadership, and may offer recommendations to the RCMP Commissioner.
In addition to the NPHSC, there are local and divisional health and safety committees across the country. Those committees have a more grassroots focus and seek to raise and address health and safety concerns for specific work sites. The NPHSC’s focus is to adopt a national view of health and safety matters.
In September 2024, the Committee renewed their Terms of Reference which continued to recognize a USJE RVP as Co-Chair. As with previous terms, a request was made to the union partners to put forward names for employee representatives on this NPHSC. As with previous terms, USJE provided names of USJE RVPs who are employees of the RCMP and understand the national health and safety matters faced by our members. To the union’s surprise and dismay, the RCMP responded by stating that USJE RVPs are not active RCMP employees. The RCMP refused to appoint these longstanding RVPs and provided, among other reasons, the following concerning rationale for their arbitrary veto approach to USJE’s representative recommendations:
“It’s important to note that the current composition of union officials creates additional complexities and challenges with being able to effectively manage the committee… it also creates issues when managing conflicts and behaviours that are counterproductive or inappropriate.”
The RCMP has made clear that their decision to deny USJE RVPs a continued seat on the NPHSC is motivated, at least in part, in its desire to control the narrative of the NPHSC by being able to exercise control over the employee-representative members appointed to the Committee.
In addition to refusing to allow the RCMP to attempt to control USJE representation on this Committee, we have also made the point that USJE RVPs are in a better position to advocate and speak of national health and safety matters, as their insight is not limited to their physical work location but rather comes from their privileged position on a national executive. A committee that seeks to provide national health and safety leadership should strive to have representatives who can provide a national perspective on the issues.
While the RCMP did offer to compromise, in an alleged good faith gesture, by having two RVPs and two “active” employees on this Committee, their intentions to exercise control over the members are clear. USJE will not risk exposing members who do not benefit from the RVPs’ added layer of union immunity to this Employer’s control.
As a result of USJE’s refusal to give in to the RCMP’s arbitrary and, in part, bad faith position, the RCMP has deemed USJE an unwelcomed party on the NPHSC and proceeded with the Committee without any representation for USJE members.
Members need to be aware that USJE members’ national interests and concerns relating to health and safety are not currently being heard and addressed by the RCMP. USJE is working with the PSAC on how best to continue to raise and advocate for health and safety matters at the RCMP given that our voice at this table has been silenced. Further updates will be provided when they become available.