January 12, 2009
News release
Workers on strike against Serco
Goose Bay – Workers at Serco in Goose Bay are on strike after their employer made no serious effort to negotiate a new contract that would guarantee fair wages and job security in the midst of a difficult economic climate, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
The 325 striking workers are members of the Union of National Defence Employees, a component of PSAC. They work at Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing Goose Bay, providing services to the base and to the community including building maintenance and repair, logistics services, environmental protection, ground and air communications and more. Serco is a profitable U.S.-based international corporation that has a contract with the Department of National Defence to provide services to maintain 5 Wing Goose Bay.
“For nine months, Serco has made a mockery of the collective bargaining process, giving us little choice but to put up picket lines,” says Graham Moorehouse, bargaining team member. “This was not an easy decision, especially at this time of year, but an overwhelming majority of our members have voted to use strike action to make Serco focus on our contract issues.”
The union presented a wage proposal to Serco in September and the company has refused to discuss it – while simultaneously agreeing to pay significant wage adjustments to another employee group. The company also changed the way that it pays performance incentive fees. In May, 2008 Serco received nearly a million dollars from the federal government earmarked for performance incentive fees and reneged on making the 2008 payment to employees. Serco workers have received this money annually since 2003.
Other issues that Serco workers are concerned about include job security, improvements to medical benefits and the need for a proper job classification system.
The union has negotiated an essential services agreement with Serco, ensuring that the airport will continue to operate, as well as the Central Heat and Power Plant, firefighting services, water security and aviation weather services.
“It's about time that Serco showed some respect for its workers,” says Jeannie Baldwin, PSAC Regional Vice-President - Atlantic. “Serco workers provide important services to the community of Goose Bay. They deserve decent working conditions and a fair collective agreement.”
For further information:
Jeannie Baldwin, Regional Executive Vice-President – Atlantic, 902-275-7945
Graham Moorehouse, Bargaining Team Member, 709-897-7913
Bernie Bolger, Local President, 709-896-2216
01-120109
Date Modified : 2010/01/29
