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Treasury Board targetting PFATreasury Board is playing a ‘danger pay double-cross’ on almost 2,000 USGE members at the Correctional Service of Canada. They’ve told CSC to stop paying the Penological Factor Allowance to almost 2,000 USGE members starting August 10. The union is fighting back while USGE members are putting up information picket lines. Read the letter from the PSAC National President Nycole Turmel to Treasury Board Read the latest information from USGE President John Edmunds Send a message to your Member of Parliament July 22, 2005 Hélène Laurendeau Dear Ms Laurendeau: RE: Penological Factor Allowance (PFA) It is our understanding that the CSC, under the direction of Treasury Board, intends to cease paying approximately 2,000 public service workers the Penological Factor Allowance (PFA) on August 10, 2005. We are also told that it is the Employer’s intention to seek a retroactive claw back of all PFA paid out under the current collective agreement. This action flies in the face of binding PSAC and Treasury Board collective agreements. It directly contradicts the Employer’s existing practice and, disturbingly, is a complete change from the Employer’s statements during the bargaining process. The PSAC fully intends to fight this unilateral action, and we will consider every possible legal and political means to do so. We intend, in so doing, to hold the Treasury Board accountable for what, in our view, is a decision that is not only unlawful, but is rendered in bad faith. In the current climate, it is startling to me as President of the PSAC, as well as the thousands of members we represent within correctional services and beyond, that Treasury Board neither respects, nor is adequately willing to compensate, public service workers who are exposed on a daily basis to the stress and danger of working within the correctional system. The Treasury Board has repeatedly stated that, with the introduction of the new Public Service Labour Relations Act, it embraces the objective of harmonious labour relations with public sector unions. The plan to cease payment of the PFA, and the reversal of position on eligibility for the PFA only serves to underscore to PSAC members from coast to coast to coast that unilateralism and bad faith remain features of the current labour relations climate. Given the importance of this matter, we ask that that you make yourself available to meet and discuss this issue well in advance of your proposed August 10, 2005, implementation date. Sincerely, Nycole Turmel
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