SUFA Initiative (2002)

General Information

Department

HRDC - Labour Program

Partners

There are no partners in the administration or delivery of the program.

Effective Date

September 1991 (TB 817089 - amended TB 821541)

Expiry Date

Ongoing

Web Site

http://labour-travail.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/eng/fmcs.cfm

Purpose

The objective of the Labour-Management Partnerships Program (LMPP) is to support joint labour-management initiatives that are developed and implemented in the workplace, or at the sectoral level; to foster and improve the labour-management relationship. LMPP funding allows the parties to experiment with new ideas through pilot projects that are outside the scope of normal day-to-day operations and to jointly seek new ways of working and of working together. The program encourages the development of tangible results (e.g. manuals, training materials, videos, proceedings, reports) that are widely distributed by program participants to other labour and business organizations. Projects are assessed against specific program criteria and priorities. Priority is given to projects under the federal jurisdiction.

Roles and Contributions

LMPP is a centralized federal program with no provincial counterparts. It is a cost-sharing program, where participants (union, employer or an association which represents both) must contribute at least 50% of the total costs of the project in cash or in kind. In most projects, however, participants contribute considerably more than half of the total costs. Maximum LMPP funding for each project is $100,000 over a period not exceeding 24 months.

The role and contribution of HRDC is publicly communicated in all final project reports and marketing material. The following clauses are part of the contribution agreement signed by the parties:

« The applicant agrees to acknowledge the financial contribution of Human Resources Development Canada in any document resulting from this project, on all promotional material and at any presentation based on the project in a prominent fashion, by inserting on the cover page of a hard cover document or on the first screen of an electronic document, or by advertising/announcing at any presentation, the following :

« This project was financially assisted by the Labour-Management Partnerships Program ».

These clauses are accompanied by the Canada logo on marketing material.

Our experience has been that the role and contribution of the Labour Management Partnerships Program and the interest of the Labour Program of HRDC in promoting co-operative and stable industrial relations is always prominently acknowledged at conferences that receive a financial contribution. Likewise, funded projects that produce publications acknowledge clearly the role and contribution of the HRDC Labour Program. Public reaction is tracked by way of client surveys, evaluations and through the comments that are received concerning projects that are funded and concerning the program itself.

Resources

Funding

$1.6 million per fiscal year. - There are no transfers of resources to provincial governments.

Tracking and Reporting

The Statement of Work, Progress Reports, the Budget and the Schedule of Payments are negotiated with the applicants before a contribution agreement is signed by all participants. Spending is tracked and documented through expenditure reports which must be submitted before issuing incremental project payments. If the previous payment has not been expended by the applicants the subsequent payment will be withheld until all previous payments are spent on the agreed to items. If there are any irregularities with the expenditure reports they are noted on file and the parties are contacted to rectify any spending discrepancies. Once rectified the next payment is released. All files are available for public review upon request.

Canadians can obtain information on projects by calling the LMPP 1-800 line (563-5677). As part of the contribution agreement, applicants are required to submit a marketing plan for the dissemination of the final project report to ensure that the results of the project benefit the most Canadians possible. Copies of final project reports are available to the public from the parties. In addition, copies of all project reports are available for public consultation through the HRDC library. Summaries of many final reports are published in the Labour program's "Workplace Gazette".

Detailed information with respect to HRDC grants and contribution program spending is available at http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/dept/reports/index.shtml

Measurement and Reporting

Outcomes

A final report is requested for every project describing the project objectives, how the objectives were reached, lessons learned, pitfalls, recommendations, if appropriate, and how the process has contributed to the labour-management relationship.

Program outcomes expected to be achieved are based on the project outputs described below:

• The most important planned outputs expected to be achieved in any project are tools, reports, best practices, newly established procedures or other mechanisms which will directly or indirectly improve the labour-management relationship.
• The key short-term outcome expected in any project is to improve the labour/management relationship at the workplace or sectoral level. The desired medium-term outcome is to share with other organizations new ways of working and working together which will contribute to reducing those barriers that arise during negotiation of their collective agreement. The desired long-term outcome is to establish healthier work environments, which are beneficial to not only labour and management, but Canadians as a whole. This can take the form of increased employment at the workplace or sectoral level, fewer strikes and lockouts, and ultimately, a competitive advantage for Canadians within the global economy.

A diagnostic tool to measure the success of LMPP funded workplace projects has recently been developed to measure and assess key outcomes. In addition, program effectiveness is measured by the percentage of labour disputes settled without a work stoppage.

Indicators

Program effectiveness is measured by the percentage of labour disputes settled without a work stoppage. In addition a diagnostic tool has recently been developed to measure the success of LMPP funded workplace projects and assess key outcomes.

The information with respect to labour disputes settled without a work stoppage is obtained from federal and provincial labour agencies. Information with respect to the assessment of a project by those involved and affected is done by client satisfaction surveys and evaluations.

Comparable Indicators

A societal indicator that will be used is the percentage obtained by comparing the number of work days lost to strikes to the number of total work days. This indicator, which is available from HRDC-Labour Program, measures the industrial relations health of Canada.

Evaluation / Thrid Party Assessments

LMPP was subject to the most recent HRDC internal audit and the HRDC Internal Program Review. There was also an evaluation done in 1998 by Ekos Research Associates Inc, and another evaluation is scheduled to be completed in 2003. Conclusions from all the reviews have confirmed the importance of the program and the integrity of its processes and controls.

Periodic evaluations to ensure that the program continues to meet its objectives will be conducted as required. On and off-site monitoring by LMPP Program Advisors have been and will continue to be carried out to ensure adherence to methods and procedures outlined in the contribution agreement.

Shared Information and Best Practices

For projects funded by LMPP, a communication strategy is required to ensure dissemination of the final report, best practices, how-to-guides and other outputs in order to benefit as many other organizations and individuals as possible.

The HRDC Grants and Contributions website provides detailed information with respect to grants and contributions in general and with respect to certain specific projects which may be of interest and benefit to the general public.

Public Reporting

At the time funding is granted, press releases are issued for projects deemed to be of significant public interest describing the nature of the project and the anticipated results. While there are no public announcements at the time of completion of a project, project results are made available to the public by the participants and some project results appear in industrial relations publications including the Labour Program's "Workplace Gazette".

As part of the contribution agreement, applicants are required to submit a marketing plan for the dissemination of the final project report to ensure that the results of the project benefit the most Canadians possible. Copies of final project reports are available from the parties. In addition, copies of all project reports are available for public consultation through the HRDC library. A summary of many reports is published in the Labour program's "Workplace Gazette".

The HRDC Grants and Contributions website provides detailed information with respect to grants and contributions in general and with respect to certain specific projects which may be of interest and benefit to the general public.

Involving Canadians

Provisions for Citizens to Participate in Developing Social Priorities and Reviewing Outcomes

LMPP funded projects reflect the social priorities of the parties. These priorities are often a good indicator of the current issues and concerns affecting the Canadian workforce in general. Project participants have an opportunity to express their views during program evaluations and client surveys.

The HRDC Grants and Contributions website provides the public the opportunity to comment on program specific projects and/or make recommendations for new priorities.

Feedback Mechanisms to the Public

Feedback mechanisms are incorporated into the HRDC and LMPP websites.

Service Commitments

Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria

labour-travail.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/eng/fmcs.cfm. Applications, criteria, priorities and other information related to possible LMPP funding can also be obtained by telephoning the 1-800-563-5677 or through e-mail or writing.

Existence and Availability of Service Commitments

As indicated on the LMPP website and pamphlet, LMPP is committed to providing applicants with the assistance of a program advisor to explain the requirements and criteria of the program, to provide advice concerning the development of a proposal, to enter into an agreement if the proposal is approved, and to guide them on meeting the reporting and other contract requirements.

Measurement and Public Reporting

The service commitment referred to above is fulfilled in all cases, and is reviewed on a regular basis and in response to any complaints or enquires. Complaints are very rare (there are only 20 – 30 active files at one time) and are dealt with on a priority basis. Program evaluations containing client suggestions, and comments and complaints (if any) are available to the public.

Appeals and Complaints

Existence, Availability and Communication of Mechanisms

Complaints concerning any aspect of LMPP can be made by telephoning 1-800-563-5677 or via e-mail or by post.

Tracking and Public Reporting

The Program Advisor is in constant touch with the parties involved in the project permitting the resolution of any concerns or questions as they arise. A record of all activity on each project is carefully kept on file.

LMPP has never had any formal complaints from the public or clients about its program. · Non-participants of the program are free to make a complaint via the web site (e-mail) or by correspondence or by our 1-800 telephone line.

Mobility

Existence of Measure

This is a national program - it does not present any barriers to labour mobility.