FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  FEBRUARY 1, 2000

OTTAWA …. Some 8,600 public service technical workers have a new one-year tentative agreement that provides for a 2% wage increase, a $750 lump sum payment, improvements in leave, the retention of terminable allowances, an Off-Pay Sub-Plan for Primary Products Inspectors (PI) at the Canadian Grain Commission, and a breakthrough on Captive Time and overtime rates for Sea Lamprey Patrol, says Nycole Turmel, national executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

"This tentative agreement, provides for improvements in areas that have been at the bargaining table for some time now," adds Turmel. "We can continue to build on these breakthroughs during upcoming rounds of bargaining."

Turmel says that one of the breakthroughs is the provision for employees to be able to vary the way in which they take bereavement leave, such as taking leave for ceremonies related to the death which may occur at a later date. "This new provision recognizes that there are different cultural and religious practices related to bereavement among federal public service workers. Another plus is the provision for employees to take up to one day with pay for a medical appointment for a dependent family member, up from the previous one-half day."

Another breakthrough, significant for those workers who are away from home for frequent or long periods of overnight stays, is the Letter of Understanding dealing with Captive Time for all affected members of the bargaining unit. The Alliance and Treasury Board have agreed to establish a joint committee, comprised of equal representation, to meet within 30 days of the signing of the collective agreement to review the issue of captive time, travel requirements of bargaining unit members and if necessary, ways to alleviate any negative impact. The Committee will report their findings and, if applicable, their recommendations to the parties prior to the commencement of the next round of bargaining.

"For members in diverse fields of employment away from home, the common thread is the psychological, financial and physical stress of Captive Time," says Paul Ducey, regional executive-vice president and Alliance officer responsible for the bargaining unit. "On occasion, the worker is away for periods of two weeks in order to save his or her employer money on cheaper air fares. Often their travel takes them to small and remote communities in Northern Ontario," adds Ducey.

The Captive Time issue was dealt with in three ways: the study; the addition of one 10-minute station to station telephone call in addition to those provided in the travel directive; and, the provision that Industry Canada employees in the Technical Inspection bargaining unit who work on days of rest when away from their Headquarters area will be compensated at overtime rates.

Other improvements in the tentative agreement include:

• overtime rates for those PSAC members on Sea Lamprey Patrol;

• four weeks and three days of vacation leave with pay after 17 years of service;

• a continuation of the Terminable Allowances for some 600 Technical Inspectors (TI) and, for 150 Primary Products Inspectors (PIs);

• an Off-Pay Sub-Plan for PI workers at the Canadian Grain Commission. While these are full-time indeterminate employees, they are subjected to temporary layoff. They will now receive a top-up to 70% of their weekly rate of pay. During the two-week waiting period for EI they will receive 35% of their regular weekly rate of pay.

"This issue of temporary layoff has been on the bargaining table for many years and we have finally made a breakthrough. And, Treasury Board has signed a waiver that protects our right to challenge in the courts the employer’s right to temporarily layoff these full-time workers."

Turmel says the negotiating team is recommending acceptance of this agreement. "Ratification meetings will be held in the new few weeks." If ratified, the agreement will expire June 21, 2000.

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For information:

Nycole Turmel, PSAC national executive vice-president (613) 560-4310

Paul Ducey, PSAC regional executive vice-president (902) 445-0925

06-010200