Federal Correctional Officers to welcome new Commissioner and seek her support for a respectful monetary offer

OTTAWA - Dozens of Federal Correctional Officers, wearing their ceremonial uniforms, will demonstrate in front of Correctional Services Canada (CSC) headquarters in Ottawa, on Wednesday, September 13, 2000, to welcome Lucie McClung, the new Commissioner of the CSC. These Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members will be supported by their colleagues at several institutions throughout Canada who will hold similar demonstrations.

As this week will mark the debut of Ms. McClung's work as Commissioner of Correctional Services Canada, the Officers want to show their support for their negotiating team and to protest the employer’s last monetary offer intransigethe at the bargaining table.

Negotiations between the PSAC and Treasury Board of Canada broke down on August 10 after the employer tabled a monetary offer that is considered an insult by the Correctional Officers (CX). The offer of 2% per year in 2000, and 2% and an increment in 2001, does not value the professional work done by Correctional Officers and their exceedingly difficult working conditions. It further contradicts a recent study conducted jointly by the PSAC, CSC and Treasury Board, which found that the CXs are experiencing a 20% wage disparity with the RCMP.

Since the break down of negotiations, the 5,000 Correctional Officers have organized various information pickets to show their solidarity and support of their bargaining team in its effort to obtain a fair and equitable collective agreement. The conditions of employment for the CXs, imposed by Parliament last year, expired on May 31, 2000. The PSAC has asked for the assistance of a conciliation officer.

Details of the demonstration are:

Date:

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

Place:

Correctional Services Canada

340 Laurier Avenue, Ottawa

Time:

7:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Correctional Officers will arrive by bus from Kingston at 7:00 a.m.

They will leave Ottawa at about 9:00 a.m.

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Spokesperson:

John Edmunds, National Executive Vice-President

Union of Solicitor General Employees

Contacts:

Linda Cross, regional representative PSAC, (613) 542-7322

Pierre Lebel, communications officer PSAC, (613) 560-5482

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