News release

July 19, 2004  

Parks Agency not taking negotiations seriously: PSAC

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada is baffled by Parks Canada Agency's approach to negotiating a collective agreement, after a week of hearings before a conciliation board.

In an unprecedented move by any negotiating party, the employer came before the conciliation board without a written submission of its proposals and declined to make a presentation on its pay position.

“The union is completely frustrated with this employer's behaviour at bargaining,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the Atlantic Region Jeannie Baldwin, who is the union executive overseeing Parks negotiations.   “They've been saying all along that they want to come to a settlement, but from the day bargaining began, they have not been taking the process seriously.”

At the end of the week of hearings, the employer made a last-minute wage increase offer of 2.25%, 2% and 1.5% in each year during the life of the collective agreement.   The union rejected the offer, which was well below the pattern of increases in other collective agreements in the public service.   The union's demand is 5% in each of the three years to keep up with the rest of the public service and with inflation.

The employer also offered a 3% adjustment to address a 20-per-cent wage gap that was identified in a study supported by Treasury Board and the PSAC.   The wage gap is among Parks workers in certain classifications and their counterparts in the private and public sectors.    

The union also rejected this offer for its extreme inadequacy.

The union is looking forward to the conciliation board's recommendations, which will be tabled on July 26.   The union hopes the Board's recommendations will form the basis to end this dispute.   However, after seven days of the Board's report without the parties coming to a settlement, the union will be in a legal position to strike.

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For information: Joselito Calugay, Communications, (613) 560-4235.

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