News release

October 12, 2004

125,000 PSAC members on strike while talks continue - Strike suspended at Parks Canada

OTTAWA – Approximately 125,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members have started strike action as of 12:01 a.m. October 12th as negotiations continue with Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency.

PSAC has, pending a review of written documents, a tentative agreement with Parks Canada. Therefore, strike action by the union’s 4,800 members at the Parks Canada Agency has been suspended. The 1,000 members in the Treasury Board Education and Library Science group (Table 5) are not in a legal strike position.

“The union had set a deadline of midnight, October 11 th either to reach settlements or to strike,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. “While talks are continuing overnight, our 80,000 members in the Program and Administrative Services Group (Table 1), 10,000 in the Operational Services Group (Table 2), 10,000 in the Technical Services Group (Table 3) and the 25,000 members with the Canada Revenue Agency are taking strike action.”

PSAC will hold a news conference on Tuesday morning to provide an update on negotiations and strike action.

Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Place: PSAC Building, 233 Gilmour Street (between Elgin and Metcalfe)

J.K. Wyllie Boardroom (ground floor)

Spokesperson: PSAC National President Nycole Turmel

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For information: Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications
(613) 558-4975 (cell)

Joselito Calugay, PSAC Communications
(613) 293-9324 (cell)