News release

September 17, 2004

Striking Parks employees bring petitions to town  

Ottawa— Striking Parks Canada employees, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, presented a petition with more than 10,000 signatures to members of Parliament today in Ottawa. The petitions were signed by visitors to Parks Canada facilities across Canada.

“Those signatures represent the opinion of tourists who, contrary to Parks management, recognize the value of the work our members accomplish for Parks Canada,” said Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President. “Those workers deserve to be treated fairly because they are the custodians of Canada's natural beauty and history,” added Turmel.

For Turmel, each signature on the petitions speaks loudly of the way visitors look at the unfair treatment Parks Canada imposes to its employees.

The 4,800 PSAC members at Parks Canada began strike actions on August 13 in various national parks and historic sites across the country. In many cases, national parks, canals and historic sites were open to the public, but the visitors did not have to pay the usual entry fees.

For Turmel, Parks management still does not understand the seriousness of the situation. “Our bargaining team moved significantly on the issue of wages during the last set of negotiations,” she said, “but management has yet to put forward a fair and decent wage offer.”

Parks Canada refuses to address the average 20% wage gap for federal operational workers revealed by the Treasury Board/PSAC joint pay study.

“This is an unbiased scientific study jointly commissioned by the PSAC and Treasury Board. It is totally unacceptable for the government to disregard its conclusions,” Turmel said.

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For information:        Alain Cossette, Communications (613) 293-9210                                       Blanche Roy, PSAC Gatineau Regional Office
                                   (613) 298-6703