News release

May 14, 2007

PSAC begins massive round of bargaining with federal government
A key issue: eliminating regional rates of pay

OTTAWA – Bargaining for over 100,000 federal public sector workers is beginning as the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) meets today in Ottawa with the federal government.

According to PSAC National President John Gordon, delegates to the PSAC convention in 2006 adopted a comprehensive policy to defend quality public services. “The union has tabled a number of bargaining demands that are designed to maintain and enhance federal public services in response to a Conservative government whose ideology is one of smaller government and by extension, fewer and less effective services for Canadians.”

PSAC started getting ready for this round of negotiations in the summer of 2006 when it sent out its input call to union Locals and Branches for bargaining proposals.  Members participated in two regional bargaining conferences and a national bargaining conference where delegates finalized bargaining demands and chose the members of the negotiating teams.

“The union served notice to bargain at the earliest possible date before the expiry date of each of the five agreements,” says Gordon.  “The parties exchanged demands on April 27 and for the first time we’re starting negotiations before any of these agreements expire. We’re ready and eager to negotiate.”

The union is marking the first day of negotiations by handing out leaflets and organizing activities in support of an important demand that the union has tabled – the elimination of regional rates of pay for PSAC members.

“The federal government pays 93% of its employees a national rate of pay for the work they do,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President (Prairies) Robyn Benson. “Regardless of where they work, they’re paid the same rate for the same job. However, the remaining 7% are paid a zone rate of pay, depending on where they are located.”

Zone rates mean that some workers are paid as much as 7.5% to 17% less for the work they do based solely on their geographic location. “Members of Parliament are all paid the same rate of pay for the work they do representing their constituents,” says Benson. “Our members serve Canadians too and they all deserve national rates of pay.”

In the coming weeks and months, PSAC will also be negotiating with the Parks Canada Agency, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canada Revenue Agency.  Ending regional rates of pay is also a key issue for members at Parks Canada.

PSAC is negotiating with Treasury Board on behalf of the Program and Administrative Services (PA), Operational Services (SV), Technical Services (TC), Education and Library Science (EB) and Frontière/Border Service (FB) bargaining units. The contracts expire between June 20 and August 4, 2007. Together with the three Agency units, the union will be bargaining for over 130,000 of its 160,000 members.

For information:
Denis Boivin, PSAC Communications
(613) 222-4617 (cell)

19-140507