News release

August 24, 2004

Labour relations with the federal government in downward spiral

OTTAWA – Labour relations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the federal government continue to deteriorate as yet another Conciliation Board starts its hearings today.

Talks began almost a year ago between the PSAC and Treasury Board for operational services workers employed by the federal government.   Shortly after negotiations began, an independent consultant produced the results of their survey of wage rates for comparable positions in the private and public sector.   The Morneau-Sobeco study, which had been jointly commissioned by PSAC and Treasury Board, showed an average wage gap of 20%.  

“Treasury Board's only offer to these members consisted of 1.75%, 1.25% and 1.25% over a three-year period,” says Jerome Turcq, PSAC's Regional Executive Vice-President for Quebec.   “That offer doesn't even address increases in the cost of living, much less the wage gap that the study revealed.”

This is the third major federal public sector bargaining unit represented by the PSAC to reach a critical point in the bargaining process.   Parks Canada workers are already in their 12 th day of a strike.   PSAC members at the Canada Revenue Agency are expecting the report of their Conciliation Board to be filed on August 27 th , putting them in a legal strike position in early September.  

“While PSAC members are demonstrating today at the site of the Conciliation Board hearings and other sites across the country, the Liberal caucus is meeting in Ottawa,” advises PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.    “We are calling on the Prime Minister and all Liberal Members of Parliament to make negotiations a priority issue during their deliberations this week with a view to returning to the bargaining table at the earliest date to actually deal with our members' concerns.”

Turmel says that while strikes are taking place at Parks Canada sites, the union's members have been trying to minimize any inconvenience to Canadians and tourists.   “However, as the government keeps forcing more and more of our members onto picket lines, services to Canadians undoubtedly will be affected.”

“The Martin government can continue to treat our members – their workers -   as if they were expendable, or it can return to the table with offers that will produce settlements.”

The Conciliation Board hearings are scheduled to take place on August 24 and from August 27 th to 30 th inclusive.   The PSAC agreement with Treasury Board, covering over 10,000 operational services workers, expired on August 4, 2003.   At least another 95,000 PSAC members in two more Treasury Board groups and at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are also headed to Conciliation Boards, starting in September.

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For information:            Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications,

                                       (613) 560-4287 or (613) 558-4975 (cell)

50-240804