News release

September 10, 2003

Canadians’ health too important to ignore:

PSAC members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Ottawa— The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is seeking the assistance of a conciliation officer to assist in their negotiations with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in order not to disrupt one of Canada’s most important public health protection systems.

“The CFIA is playing with Canadians’ health by refusing to address our key issues and concerns during these negotiations with the PSAC,” said the PSAC National President, Nycole Turmel. “The Agency is even refusing to give its employees the same benefits available in the federal public sector. This is ridiculous, as our members at CFIA perform an important public service – that of ensuring the safety of the food that we eat. It stands to reason that these members maintain the same benefits as their colleagues within the federal public sector.”

Negotiations for a collective agreement for 3,495 PSAC members at CFIA reached an impasse on Saturday, September 6. While the union made significant efforts to present a package that could have led to a settlement between the parties, the employer did not make any movement on any of the union’s key issues. The union therefore advised the employer that it is applying for the assistance of a conciliation officer, in the hope of achieving a negotiated settlement.  

For Turmel, CFIA’s refusal to address the union’s priority issues could bring disruption within an organization that plays a most important role in protecting the health of Canadians.

“We are certainly not talking about a strike just yet,” Turmel said. “But we will be taking a strike vote soon, and increasing our mobilization activities across the country. With the recent case of Mad Cow disease and the developing story emerging from the Aylmer Meat plant in Ontario, food safety is an issue that Canadians are very concerned about. We would encourage the CFIA to take these negotiations seriously.”

The union now hopes to achieve a collective agreement through the conciliation process and to be able to continue to play its important role in protecting the health of all Canadians.

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For information:   Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications (613) 560-4317