News release

September 3, 2004

National walkout at Parks Canada

OTTAWA – All 4,800 Parks Canada employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) walked off the job today paralyzing national parks, historic sites, canals, marine conservation areas and Parks offices across the country.  

“We have given the employer a number of opportunities to come back to the bargaining table and settle this dispute”, says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.    “Instead, Parks Canada seems intent on dragging this out as long as possible, regardless of the impact.”  

            Turmel reiterated the union's message that the strikers don't want to inconvenience the public.   “Access by visitors to national parks and historic sites has by and large not been stopped, even if the Agency is losing badly needed revenue.”  

            “The purpose of our all-out strike today is to put additional pressure on an employer who is obviously reluctant to return to the bargaining table.   We are asking for the public's support and understanding as our strike action escalates. Disruptions in service and the closing of parks and canals are, ultimately, the result of Parks' Canada's inaction.”  

Turmel wonders why the Liberal minority government wants to kick off a new Parliament with the public service in a state of upheaval.   “The union has called upon Treasury Board President Reg Alcock to give Parks Canada a real mandate to negotiate a settlement.   So far, Alcock has refused to intervene claiming that federal agencies are on their own, in spite of Treasury Board's clear control of their purse strings.”  

“Today, we're pleased to announce that negotiations with the Canada Revenue Agency are scheduled to resume next Tuesday,” advises Turmel.   The recent Conciliation Board report for that group was a step in the right direction towards settlements and we will be bargaining with that in mind.   We believe this could also set the stage for a positive resolution of our strike at Parks Canada.”  

PSAC members at Parks Canada started rotating strike action on August 13. The 25,000 workers at the Canada Revenue Agency will be in a legal strike position on September 8 th followed soon by 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:   Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications
                             (613) 560-4317 or cell no. (613) 293-9210

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