News release

October 4, 2006

PSAC members at Communications Security Establishment ratify collective agreement

OTTAWA – The first collective agreement negotiated under new legislation governing labour relations with federal public service workers was ratified by about 1,500 workers at the Communications Security Establishment yesterday.

“It was our first test run of bargaining under the new Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA),” says John MacLennan, national president of the Union for National Defence Employees, a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “This negotiation was also an important case of interest-based bargaining that, in this instance, worked well for the PSAC. On the whole, our members came out with a decent contract.”

However, the collective agreement and negotiations process under the new Conservative government weren’t without its disappointments.

“A tentative agreement was reached in February between our members and the employer, CSE, but our members are only getting a contract now in October,” says Ed Cashman, PSAC’s Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. “To Treasury Board, due diligence came only after seven months. It’s unacceptable and goes against Treasury Board President John Baird’s promises of smooth relations with public service workers.”

Treasury Board also rejected part of the agreement regarding Mathematicians Compensation that would have provided a form of retention bonus for mathematicians, a position that has a high turnover in the CSE.

“We’ve recently heard from the clerk of the Privy Council about the need to attract and retain talented workers who are in high demand in the federal public service,” says Cashman. “The rejection of this provision is certainly a move in the opposite direction.”

The ratified collective agreement provides for wage increases of 2.4%, retroactive to February 2006, and 2.5%, effective February 2007, as well as an increase in wage increments and Market Allowance. It is also among the first agreements negotiated by the PSAC that provides bonuses to eligible workers who speak languages other than French or English, through the Foreign Language Incentive Program. The agreement expires on February 9, 2008.

The CSE acquires and provides foreign signals intelligence, as well as advice, guidance and services to help ensure the protection of Government of Canada electronic information. PSAC members working in the CSE include information technology (IT) workers, engineers, mathematicians and analysts, among other positions.

For information:
John MacLennan, National President of PSAC’s Union of National Defence Employees - (613) 852-3542.

29-041006