From: barrylw11@hotmail.com To: cheryl.gallant.a1@parl.gc.ca; gallac0@parl.gc.ca; gallant.c@parl.gc.ca; cheryl.gallant@parl.gc.

ca Subject: RE: JPSU - Update Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:50:06 -0500 Cheryl I'm presently on the road throughout the Region meeting with enlisted members with the added intent of (hopefully) providing a conduit for their concerns. My Officer Commanding (OC) was abruptly re-assigned after falling into disfavor and this has caused a shockwave across the Region, if not the Unit itself. He has been replaced with the former OC who is currently wrapping up the reassignment of another OC out in B.C. In my 30 + years of service, I have never seen anything quite like it. This action has instilled a type of fear in the ranks, which, to me, is unprecedented - it is a fear of doing the right thing. I am trying to rebuild their confidence in the CF by encouraging them to use the systems and policies available to them to address their concerns, and in some cases I have engaged those systems first to show they can do so without fear of reprisal. As mentioned in my preceding email, my efforts so far have not had much impact, and I am exploring other less palatable options. To-date, this has been limited to my engaging the CF Ombudsman (last week), which I believe encouraged a few others to do the same. The numbers of our posted-in ill and injured (and supported families) continue to grow, while our staff remains frozen or is in decline. We are also aware of a five-year incubation period for PTSD related cases that is coming our way, but cannot prepare for them - it is strictly a reactionary footing that we must maintain, primarily driven from the lack of a planned capacity for staff growth. The posted-in strength in our Region (Eastern Ontario) is now that of what the entire JPSU (all of Canada) was two years ago. Our staff is struggling and so far kept any tragedies from happening, but it is impossible to track all of your people and provide the required one-one-one time when you have 45 to 70 ill/injured people (each) to support. In a perfect world they say an effective ratio is around 1:9 (leader to subordinates) for very efficient control, say 1:15 is doable, but 1:45 is just crisis management and in some cases our ratio is 1:70. These are not just people either, many have injuries that require a great deal of administrative and personal time, so it would be fair to say the each posted-in mbr of the JPSU is the equivalent of 1.5 healthy people which skews the ratio even further into the realm of the ridiculous.

The unknown annuitant policy is a driving force in this and no-les than three Section Commander candidates withdrew their applications because of it. Over and above this two experienced Section Commanders put in their resignations and are gone - the uncertainty of the upcoming policy change is the motivation - nobody knows whats going to happen and are (rightfully) being pro-active in finding secure employment elsewhere. It is not that annuitants are "bailing" but the uncertainty of not knowing any details of any potential annuitant policy exceptions (good or bad) weighs heavy on them, as does the security of their positions given the upcoming transition plan of the JPSU to Reg Force personnel and who will be affected and when. Cheryl, this is more of a venting email than anything and thanks for the ear - please keep this in confidence. Take Care... Barry