July 30, 2008
An open letter to Federal Government workers:
Dear co-workers:
We are all federal government workers and we are also elected members of PSAC negotiating teams that bargain with our employer, Treasury Board. For over a year now we have been sitting through a great many bargaining sessions but so far we have made virtually no progress. This lack of progress is due to Treasury Board's refusal to address the major concerns that we've raised at the bargaining table.
Our union has negotiated provisions in our collective agreements that lead the way among unionized workers in this country in many areas. But there are still areas that need improvement.
Some of the key demands that we are proposing have already been established elsewhere. For example, protections against contracting-out can be found in collective agreements with municipal and other public sector employers across Canada. With respect to wages, over the three and a half years since our last settlement, workers at Treasury Board have fallen behind wage rates currently being paid to other unionized workers doing similar or the same work.
It is clear that our employer wants us to have wages and working conditions that are inferior to those found in other unionized workplaces across the country. We strongly disagree. We are not second class workers. All of us working for Treasury Board provide vital and high quality public services. We work hard and we take pride in the work we do. The public services we provide need to be protected. And, our wages and working conditions should meet standards that are in place for other unionized workers.
This fall we will be returning to the bargaining table. We are determined to achieve contracts that protect the services we deliver and that ensure fair wages for the work that we do. We will be calling on you, our co-workers, to help us in our efforts to make this a reality. By working together, we know we can achieve the kind of collective agreements that we deserve. Look for our information and update bulletins as negotiations progress.
In solidarity,
The members of your PSAC negotiating teams for the Education and Library Science, Frontière/Border Services, Operational Services, Program and Administrative Services and Technical Services bargaining units.
Home Site Map Contact Us Bargaining Search Join Our Union Français
Date Modified : 2008/07/30
Public Service Alliance of Canada | 233, Gilmour Street, Ottawa, ONTARIO CANADA, K2P 0P1, Tel.: 1 888 604-7722 (PSAC)