FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 14, 2001
PSAC members at Food Inspection Agency say ‘yes’ to strike vote
OTTAWA - The majority of Public Service Alliance of Canada members working at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have voted in favour of job action, up to and including a general strike if necessary, to settle their contract dispute.
"This vote will send a strong message to the Agency that our members are not prepared to settle for wage increases that will not only see them fall behind their counterparts in the private sector, but will also see them fall behind the rate of inflation," says Nycole Turmel, PSAC national president. "With an inflation rate of 3.2% for the months of November and December, 2000, there is no reason why these workers should be going backwards," adds Turmel. "Other public sector employers are recognizing this and in settlements reached last fall the average annual wage increase was 3%."
"The Agency says its offer follows the federal government’s pattern," adds Yves Ducharme, national president of the PSAC’s Agriculture Union. "However, their wage offer would leave members of the bargaining unit about $900 behind where they would be if they were still under Treasury Board," Ducharme continues.
"Although the Agency became a separate employer in April 1997, for some reason Treasury Board continues to control the purse strings. It’s time this government recognized the recruitment and retention problem they have at the CFIA and compensated these workers accordingly."
Ducharme questions how serious the government is about protecting the health and safety of the Canadian public. "More than one report confirms the looming crisis in retaining and recruiting food safety inspectors including that of the Auditor General," Ducharme says. "However, when the Agency sits down at the bargaining table they tell our team members that Treasury Board has only mandated a certain amount of money for PSAC members while providing senior CFIA management with an 8.7% increase retroactive to April 2000, with more increases on the horizon."
Members of the Conciliation Board set up to hear the PSAC/CFIA dispute held mediation meetings with the parties from February 6 to 8 in Ottawa in an attempt to assist the parties in reaching a negotiated settlement through mediation. The parties have agreed to the Board’s proposal to schedule an additional Conciliation Board session from March 27 to 29 in Ottawa.
Turmel says that using strike action to achieve a fair and equitable settlement is a last resort for the union. "However, if Treasury Board doesn’t release its hold on the purse strings and the Agency doesn’t start taking negotiations seriously, the PSAC will have no alternative but to authorize such action."
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