News release

October 4, 2004

PSAC says settlements are within reach if government prepared to move

OTTAWA – One more Conciliation Board has recommended increases that point the way to a settlement of escalating strikes in the federal public sector, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).   The Conciliation Board for PSAC members in Treasury Board's Technical Services Group (Table 3) issued its report today.  

“A trend is being set by Conciliation Boards that have given serious consideration to the question of wage increases for our members,” indicates PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. “The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Conciliation Board and now this one have both recommended an increase in the first year of 3%, recognizing that inflation alone in 2003 was 2.8%.”

Turmel indicates that, while this Conciliation Board has gone in the right direction with its recommendation of 3%, 2.5% and 2.5%, the CRA Board's recommendations of 3%, 2.75% and 2.5% are closer to federal public sector settlements.   As of August, 2004, 39 settlements produced an average economic increase of 3.0% in 2004 and 2.84% in 2005.   And thirty-six of those settlements also included new salary increments or other adjustments, such as wage restructuring.

Treasury Board's representative on the Board dissented on the issue of wages, recommending 2.5%, 2.0% and 2.0%.   “This recommendation is the same as the offer that was rejected by our Parks Canada bargaining unit 53 strike days ago,” says Turmel. “It hasn't improved with age.”

In a recent letter to Deputy Ministers and others, Treasury Board tried to bolster its case by indicating that federal government executives only received 2.5% increases in 2003, in spite of a recommendation for 2.8%.   Curiously, it failed to mention that at least 90% of these employees receive significant so-called performance bonuses.   In 2003, a Deputy Minister at the third level's performance bonus was $45,260, a sum higher than the annual salary of many PSAC members.  

According to Turmel, “the union is ready to come back to the bargaining table whenever the government is prepared to return with a new mandate and a willingness to settle.”

Gerry Halabecki, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President ( Ontario ) responsible for the Technical Services bargaining unit, notes that the Conciliation Board also made recommendations on a number of other important issues.   “The Board recognized that many of these workers perform hazardous duties and made significant recommendations for improved language on workers' health and safety rights.   And, it recommended that the discretion for granting injury on duty leave be taken out of the hands of the employer in favour of the appropriate provincial Workers' Compensation Board.”  

Addressing the needs of so-called “captive time” workers who travel extensively as part of their jobs, the Board has recommended that travel to courses, training sessions, professional conferences and seminars count towards the earning of compensatory leave.

“As was the case with the Program and Administrative Services Group, this Conciliation Board has recommended that any employee trained and certified to handle hazardous substances or transport dangerous goods should receive the appropriate allowance,” says Halabecki.   “The allowances are currently restricted to workers in the Operational Services group.”

On working conditions for seasonal workers, the Board has recommended that the parties conduct a joint study on the matter.   A similar study, which looked into issues affecting the federal government's term workers, was agreed upon during PSAC's last round of negotiations with Treasury Board.

The 11,000 Technical Services workers can take strike action starting October 12 th , bringing the total number of PSAC members in a legal position to strike on that date to 130,000.

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For information:  Joselito Calugay, PSAC Communications (613) 560-4235 or (613) 293-9324

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