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News releaseOctober 25, 2005 PSAC accuses federal government of colluding with Lakeside Packers, calls for anti-scab lawOTTAWA - The National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada has raised concerns that the federal government, through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, is colluding with the employer at Alberta’s Lakeside Packers and putting its members in danger in a strike that has turned violent. “In reality, the government of Canada, through the CFIA, is putting some 30 PSAC members directly in the middle of a labour dispute that has turned violent,” says PSAC President Nycole Turmel in a letter addressed to Federal Labour Minister Joe Fontana and Treasury Board President Reg Alcock. Turmel says the CFIA is colluding with the company by violating picket line protocols when transporting PSAC members into the plant, when making use of company supervisors to cross picket lines and when using cellular communications with company management to circumvent access points that have long picket lines. “These actions are rightly seen as being provocative by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers at the picket line,” says Turmel. She calls on the Fontana and Alcock to intervene to ensure that the government of Canada remains neutral during the labour dispute. Turmel also places the heated strike in a broader context. “The whole volatile situation can be blamed on the fact that the government has so far failed to introduce anti-scab legislation and first-contract arbitration,” she says. In her letter, she urges Fontana to introduce anti-scab legislation immediately and to work with the provincial and territorial labour ministers to adopt similar legislation. Turmel also sent a letter to CFIA President François Guimont asking for an urgent meeting after receiving phone calls from members and a report from PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the Prairies Robyn Benson. Benson recently met with PSAC members and management representatives at the plant. “From what I saw, it’s clear that management fails to understand the gravity of the situation and, on at least one occasion, has reverted to threatening our members with disciplinary action,” says Benson. Benson remains in Brooks, Alberta, and continues to monitor the situation and the legitimate concerns of PSAC members.
Turmel wants to meet with Guimont to discuss ways to ensure the protection of PSAC members working at the plant. -30- For information: Joselito Calugay PSAC communications officer, (613) 560-4235 or 47-251005 |