Thank you for the opportunity to appear today.
The Union of National Defence Employees of the Public Service Alliance of Canada represents 20,000 civilian defence workers. Our members ensure that military operations are mission-ready at all times and that military members have safe and secure places to live and work. Our members are experts who work on bases and in offices, warehouses, airports, labs and garages. They provide consistent and knowledgeable services so that the military can be agile and combat-ready.
Privatization, contracting out, sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination undermine our members' work and occupational satisfaction.
Our 2020 report highlighted the dangers of contracting out cleaning services. It showed that budget allocation restraints force base commanders to regularly contract out essential work, costing more and providing poorer service. For example, this is a quote from a DND briefing note in Kingston:
It was observed that in an effort to increase the profit margin the contract cleaners were using inferior or improper cleaning products which resulted in additional maintenance, environmental problems and health and safety issues resulting in unfit living conditions.
The statement of work for the contract with Dexterra at Kingston has a total value of just over $3 million over six years. That's less than half of what's necessary to pay the workers even a minimum wage. It's a clear indication that the service will be compromised.
Our report also detailed the situation of a contracted minimum-wage worker who cleaned a DND medical centre. During most of her employment, she didn't have the necessary WHMIS training and didn't understand how the chemicals she used could hurt herself or others. She was instructed to water down cleaning solutions and forced to clean secure areas without having the proper security clearance. It wasn't her fault, but her work compromised the patients and other workers. She eventually quit for better work, pay and benefits offered at a fast-food outlet.
DND must stop contracting out and must repatriate existing contracted-out services. There must be transparent and comprehensive reasons if contracting out must be used on rare occasions.
Harassment within DND is systemic and entrenched, and it's not limited to members of the military.
One of our members, Kristina MacLean, experienced constant sexual and racial harassment, and she filed numerous grievances and complaints. She won. As a result, she was forced to endure even more harassment. According to MacLean, “Managers are afraid to acknowledge anything out of line because they fear not getting promoted. They make problems go away.” And they tried to make her go away.
The culture in fire halls is another example of toxicity.
CFB Valcartier firefighters filed nine violence in the workplace complaints, eight of which were founded. Firefighters at CFB Suffield have accused the deputy fire chief of violent behaviour while the fire chief stood idly by. Complaints dating back to 2019 have yet to be resolved.
Our union is working with the investigation into sexual misconduct and workplace harassment conducted by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour. We commend Minister Anand for her apology, and we support her acceptance of Madame Arbour's initial recommendation that all such incidents be investigated and prosecuted in the civilian justice system.
Now DND needs to expedite the current active investigations. It needs to enforce harassment policies and ensure that those committing abuses face consequences, and it must include civilian workers in all aspects of any review of the current systems.
When it comes to occupational satisfaction, wage gaps are a major issue. DND's operational workers are paid less than their equivalent trades in the private sector.
DND firefighters, for example, are paid approximately 20% less than their equivalent municipal firefighters are, yet DND firefighters are responsible for a much wider range of safety and security duties, more than what is normal for a first-class municipal firefighter. Also, they're not eligible for the early retirement that's available to nearly every other firefighter in every other jurisdiction.
Thank you. I look forward to answering your questions.