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Canadian Firearms Centre - PSAC Local 60001FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Miramichi economy should not pay for errors made by Ottawa politiciansMIRAMICHI - The federal government’s decision to turn over the Central Processing Site (CPS) of the Canadian Firearms Center to a private corporation is bad news for the local economy in Miramichi. "Christmas is coming but the members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) employed at the Central Processing Site can only look forward to a considerable drop in salary and benefits as their jobs are privatized," says PSAC Local 60001 President Sue Trevors. "It’s not the work of our members and the wages they receive that caused the massive cost over run, but the decisions of Ottawa’s politicians and management. Privatization only displaces the problem and penalizes the workers and their community." The Federal Department of Justice originally sought the expertise of Human Resources Development Canada in the implementation, management and operation of the Central Processing Site. As of January 1, 2003, much of the operation now will be turned over to an Ontario-based private company called Business Data Processing (BDP). "The current employees are well versed in the Canadian Firearms Legislation," explains Trevors. "They provide accurate assistance to businesses and individuals with respect to the firearms licencing and registration processes as well as the registration process for the transfer of firearms." In spite of their training and experience, the government has made no provision for Business Data Processing to take on these workers. The terms of the government’s Request for Proposal did not require the successful bidder to assume current, trained staff; only that the staff hired by BDP be located in Miramichi. According to Trevors, "this is very bad news not just for the workers, but for local businesses as well. Salaries for most of the workers range from $18 to $20 an hour, at the minimum rates. In addition to their salaries, CPS workers are also entitled to a wide range of additional benefits, such as a dental plan, a health care plan and paid leave. BDP is only offering between $9.25 and $11.50 an hour, less than half of current rates for most of the staff, without comparable benefits. We are told that the workers who want health plan benefits, will see the cost of these benefits come out of their take-home pay. Trevor notes that "the Firearms Centre has been a good source of well-paid, local employment that has been a plus for this community. All of that will change as of January 1st. And, there’s no guarantee that these jobs will stay in Miramichi when the contract comes up for renewal in several years. By that time, BDP will have scrapped the existing system and put in its own, giving it considerable control. Once this happens, the federal government may no longer be in a position to insist that the operation remain in Miramichi. PSAC represents approximately 140 workers at the Central Processing Site of the Canadian Firearms Centre. They are employed in a variety of administrative positions including Client Service Agents, Data Processors, Transfer, Exception Handling and General Support Clerks and Firearms Officers. - 30 - For information: |