The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (the Board) is an independent administrative tribunal established by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act (PSLREBA), which came into force on November 1, 2014. Prior to this date, the Board’s functions in relation to federal public service staffing complaints were exercised by the Public Service Staffing Tribunal (PSST), which ceased to exist when the Board was created. From November 1, 2014, until June 19, 2017, the Board was called the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board.
In relation to staffing matters, the Board is responsible for dealing with complaints under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) related to internal appointments and lay-offs within the federal public service. The Board can also receive complaints about appointments that were made to comply with an order in a previous Board decision as well as revocations of internal appointments.
It is important to note that these complaints fall outside the obligations in relation to your Collective Agreement. Therefore, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Government Services Union and your Local are not obligated to represent members on FPSLREB complaints. It is up to the members themselves to find the resources to assist. However, both PSAC and GSU have trained members that can provide assistance and, in some cases, full representation.
GSU does not cover costs related to staffing complaints. Locals, depending on available resources, can offer financial assistance to cover costs associated with these complaints. The decision to put the responsibility of costs on Locals was decided on three occasions, during GSU 1999 Convention, 2002 Convention and 2005 Convention. Mark Brunell, GSU National President from 1999-2011, issued a memo to that effect in 2010.
To read the memo click here: Memo to GSU Representatives re: Public Service Staffing Tribunal Complaints
GSU has developed a guide intended to be a reference tool to assist members in staffing complaints. Click on the link below to access the guide.