August 11, 2008
Negotiations with Parks Canada
Parks Canada members are Thinking Public as we fight for 'No Contracting Out'
Parks workers are committed to protecting and interpreting Canada's culture, heritage and natural resources. But our union brothers and sisters working at Parks Canada are finding it increasingly harder to do their work when the employer is determined to run one of our most cherished public agency like a business.
In its pursuit to cut costs and maximize profits, Parks Canada Agency has adopted privatization and contracting out as strategies, resulting in job losses for our members and in the deterioration of public services.
Already the responsibility for collecting fees at some parks has been contracted out to a private company and the National Information Line and the Campground Reservation Line have been contracted out to Sears Canada. There have also been efforts to contract out some of the road and grounds maintenance – services that are critical to a park's proper functioning.
The Agency has also been abusing student hiring by replacing many of our union jobs with poorly trained, inexperienced and lower-paid students. In the summer of 2007, Parks Canada employed more than 1,000 students, with many worksites staffed 50 per cent by students. None of these students is covered by our collective agreement—but nearly all the work that they do is!
In the end, privatization and contracting out do not save taxpayers' money, as user fees increase, the quality of services plummet and our natural resources deteriorate.
Our goals in the current contract negotiations are clear: Protect bargaining unit work, protect the standards that we have won and defend quality public services. Our demands at the table include no contracting out and language which clearly defines the appropriate use of student employment in the workplace.
The work of our members is a valuable public service to Canadians. To defend the quality of this service means to defend the quality of our jobs.
Be clear Be loud Be determined
Tell the Employer
Stop contracting out
Stop privatization
Stop the destruction of public services
WE WANT AN AGREEMENT
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Date Modified : 2008/08/11
Public Service Alliance of Canada | 233, Gilmour Street, Ottawa, ONTARIO CANADA, K2P 0P1, Tel.: 1 888 604-7722 (PSAC)