OTTAWA - Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members who work for the federal government in the administrative, operational, technical, education and library groups have given their union a strike mandate ranging from 62% to 70%, should attempts at Conciliation Boards fail to resolve their contract disputes.

"With this strike mandate our members are sending the federal government a message that they too deserve respect and, as employer, it has an opportunity through the Conciliation Board process to reach a fair settlement," says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. "We’ve had enough of Treasury Board’s double standard of offering the front-line workers a 2% increase while giving the Senior Executives 8.7%," she adds.

"With inflation hitting 3.6% in April, its highest rate in a decade, our members are reminding their employer that if Treasury Board continues to dismiss their legitimate concerns and demands they’ll take the necessary action to bring these issues forward and get them settled. Our members face the same rising energy and food prices that the senior executives do. However, Treasury Board seems to forget that the impact is greater because of our members’ significantly lower incomes.

"The Chretien government doled out $19-million to some 3,300 executives last year in performance pay or bonuses," Turmel adds. "And, federal judges are in line for another whopping increase. If the executive cadre get a bonus it’s because the front-line members did a great job but they don’t get the recognition.

"In the ‘90s, the freeze on PSAC members’ salaries and benefits helped put the federal government back in the black. With last year’s surplus estimated at $15-billion as a minimum, our members have said enough is enough. It’s time to stand up and demand respect, a fair increase and a fair agreement."

During meetings with Conciliation Officers in April and May, Treasury Board didn’t respond to many of the outstanding demands. "If Treasury Board’s responses at the bargaining table are a measure of their respect, it can be weighed in ounces, not pounds."

Turmel says this government thinks that it can acknowledge the work of federal public sector workers during one week of the year - National Public Service Week. "What about the other 51 weeks? Don’t public sector workers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity all year round? Our members think so and we agree with them. And the best way to acknowledge the many high-quality services they provide to Canadians is with a good collective agreement. Not a collective agreement with a wage increase that would further reduce their purchasing power."

Conciliation Board meetings for the Programme and Administration group (Table 1) will be held June 11 to 13 and June 2 and 22 if necessary. For Table 2, the Operational group, hearings will take place from June 14 to 18 inclusive. Conciliation Boards for Table 3 (Technical group) and Table 5 (Library Science and Education) are in the process of being finalized. Some 87,000 PSAC members are covered under these four collective agreement.

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For information:
Nycole Turmel, PSAC national president (613) 560-4330
Nancy Mitchell, PSAC communications officer (613) 560-4235

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