News release

August 24, 2004

Martin government finishes out of the medals

OTTAWA – Over 130,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have been going through their own version of the Olympic games, which started when their contracts expired last year.  

“Paul Martin doesn't need to hold an Olympics theme evening for his caucus,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President Ed Cashman.   “We've brought our own Olympics right to his doorstep.”

PSAC members staged their ‘labour relations Olympics' near 24 Sussex Drive Tuesday evening to bring a message to the Liberal caucus.   According to Cashman, “it's as if we're in a never-ending marathon.   Negotiations for seven major federal public sector bargaining units began in 2003 and have been going on for at least a year for most of the units.”

Featured events at the union's labour relations Olympics included the wage lifting competition (5% class), the elimination of the wage gap high jump and the settlement package shot put.   Only employer representatives qualified for the long distance peanut throw and the diving salary events.

The so far unsuccessful marathon bargaining competition has been combined with a more recent event added to the roster for PSAC members – synchronized picketing.

Drug testing will not play a role at the labour relations Olympics.   Even if PSAC members suspect the employer's team of using performance enhancing substances to stall at the bargaining table and intimidate on the picket line, they are reluctant to expose them without whistleblowing protection.

Cashman says the Martin government wins no medals for its labour relations performance.   “By letting bargaining drag on for so long and ignoring most of our demands in the process, our members are getting the clear message that their employers do not respect them or appreciate the work they do for Canadians.”

“Our mock Olympics may be in fun, but the message behind them is not.   Labour relations in the federal public sector is well down on the list of priorities for this government.”  

PSAC members at Parks Canada have been on strike since August 13.   They will soon be joined by 25,000 workers at the Canada Revenue Agency and over 10,000 Treasury Board Operational Services workers.   An additional 90,000 Treasury Board workers will be in a legal strike position in early fall.

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For information:   Ed Cashman, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President                               (National Capital Region)
                              (613) 560-4380 or (613) 294-7284 (cell)

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