OTTAWA - The release today of the unanimous Conciliation Board report for Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) should send a clear message to the employer that this contract dispute can be settled without job action, says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.

"We are pleased that the Board members recognize the importance of the work performed by these members and their recommendations can clearly form the basis for a new collective agreement," adds Turmel. "We will be contacting the Agency immediately with a view to returning to the bargaining table as soon as possible."

In their report, the Board, chaired by Muriel Wexler, recommends a three-year collective agreement providing for:

• an economic increase of 1 ¼% effective January 1, 2000, to all rates of pay;

• a 2.5% increase effective July 1, 2000 and effective July 1, 2001 for an 18-month period increase of 4% to all rates of pay or an annualized increase rate of 2.6%;

• the restructuring of the Engineering and Scientific Support (EG) group with the addition of a new step added to all levels at the top effective June 1, 2001. Members who have been at the maximum of their pay range for 12-months or more would move to the new top step;

• reduction in the Acting Pay qualification from 3 days to 2 days; and,

• some minor changes in Pay Zones for General Labour and Trades (GL) and General Services (GS) classifications. These changes do not affect members in the Atlantic or Quebec regions.

PSAC Agriculture Union National President Yves Ducharme said that the Conciliation Board is sending a message to the Agency about the importance of returning to the table to settle this dispute when it says, "with the current public health crisis in existence in Canada at this time it is imperative that the inspection services continue without interruption".

"In making its recommendations, the Conciliation Board also took our position that the Agency needs a plan to deal with future retirements and departures," Ducharme says. "More than one report has confirmed the looming crisis in retaining and recruiting food inspectors including that of the Auditor General. However, during negotiations, the CFIA ignored these warnings with its offer of 1%, 2.5% and 2.5% in a 30-month agreement with no restructuring for any group."

Ducharme says this report provides the groundwork for a new collective agreement. "If the employer is prepared to return to the bargaining table and seriously negotiate we are confident that the parties can come to a successful conclusion on the issues."

The PSAC represents 3,400 members at the Food Agency who include support staff, dairy, plant health, animal health, fruit, vegetable, meat and fish inspectors.

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For information:
Nycole Turmel, PSAC national president (613) 560-4330
Yves Ducharme, PSAC Agriculture Union national president (613) 560-4306

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