News release

March 4, 2004

PSAC to hold strike vote at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Ottawa --The negotiating team representing Public Service Alliance of Canada members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is calling for a strike vote of the membership , to be held March 8 to April 8 .   T his strike vote is necessary, as Agency management is refus ing to take the contract negotiations seriously, according to the union representing 4,000 workers at the Agency.

“We have been at the table for a year now and we have not made significant progress on any of our key issues” said Robyn Benson, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the Prairies.

For Benson, this lack of progress is caused by the Agency's lack of mandate to respond to union proposals and to engage in meaningful discussions with the PSAC .  

“ The t ime has come for CFIA management to recognize that our members are working harder than ever to combat Avian Influenza, mad cow disease and other problems in order to protect the health and safety of Canadians“ Benson said.

Benson added that the PSAC negotiation team has asked that a strike vote be conducted because our CFIA members are frustrated by the pace of negotiations , the employer's tactics and a n employer wage offer of 1% per year for 3 years. The strike vote will take place between March 8 and April 8.

The main question for Benson is whether the employer wants to end the disparit ies that currently exist between the collective agreement at CFIA and agreements found at Treasury Board and in the broader public service.

For Benson, CFIA management needs to be told by the membership loud and clear that employer promises have been broken constantly since the creation of the Agency in 1997 and that it will take more than a wage offer of 1% to achieve a collective agreement.

-30-

For information :   Alain Cossette , PSAC Communications

                             (613) 560-4317

12-040304