News release

Statistical Survey Operations hit by Canada-wide strike

OTTAWA – Half of the unionized workforce at Statistics Canada's Statistical Survey Operations (SSO) is on the picket line today as part of a series of rotating strike actions.   SSO's Regional Office Interviewers, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), are out across the country.

“Every day that SSO's workers are out on strike means that data collection for Statistics Canada surveys is disrupted and delayed,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President Ed Cashman.   “As strike action escalates, data will simply not be collected.   Or, if it is, it will be collected by hastily hired, untrained workers.”

Cashman explains that doubt is already being cast on the validity of Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey.   “According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics' Chief Statistician was quoted as saying he just didn't believe the numbers for Manitoba when the September Labour Force Survey was released on October 10th.   Rotating strike action by Regional Office Interviewers in Manitoba may already have had an impact.”

“The sample size for Manitoba for this survey is already small.   Any attempt to use even smaller samples, as a result of insufficient data collection, will only compromise the reliability and usefulness of these surveys,” concludes Cashman.

The Regional Office Interviewers have been without a contract since November 2001 and have been in a legal strike position since August.   Their walkout today coincides with the first day of a Conciliation Board hearing for their co-workers who are Field Interviewers, another PSAC bargaining unit that is negotiating its first agreement.

The Conciliation Board hearing is scheduled until Friday, October 31st.   Once the hearings have concluded, the Board Chairperson will file a report with the Public Service Staff Relations Board.   Seven days after the union is notified of the report, the Field Interviewers bargaining unit may legally join the Regional Office Interviewers on the picket line.  

Industry Minister Allan Rock doesn't seem to care that Statistics Canada's excellent reputation for its surveys is being put in jeopardy according to Cashman.   “Allowing negotiations to deteriorate to the point of a strike sends a clear message that the accuracy and reliability of the data being collected for Statistics Canada's surveys is a matter of little importance to Rock.”  

Wage increases to close the gap between Interviewers and their federal government counterparts are in dispute for both bargaining units.   The Field Interviewers are also seeking allowances to compensate them for working out of their homes.

The roughly 2,000 SSO Interviewers collect data by phone or in person.   Statistics Canada uses this data to prepare surveys which allow decision makers to analyze economic performance, develop fiscal and monetary policies, evaluate social programs and determine equalization payments.

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For information:  

Ed Cashman, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President

        (613) 560-4380

Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications

        (613) 560-4287

56-291003