FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION                                    August 30, 2001

PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee condemns
Treasury Board attempt to roll back equity gains

OTTAWA - Members of the Equal Opportunities Committee (EOC) of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have condemned Treasury Board’s latest offer as an attempt to erode gains for equity group members in the workplace.

"Treasury Board’s stated commitment to support a balance between work and families for their employees is a hollow one", declares PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President (REVP) for British Columbia Patty Ducharme, co-chair of the Committee. "In fact, the government has tabled clawbacks to existing collective agreement provisions which provide leave without pay for child and elder care."

PSAC’s REVP for Ontario and EOC co-chair, Gerry Halabecki, also deplored the employer’s blatant disregard for equity issues in the bargaining process. "PSAC members fought for 15 years to force the government to abide by its own pay equity law. Now Treasury Board is trying to cut its losses by tabling an offer that discriminates against the members who were entitled to pay equity adjustments."

The EOC has written to Treasury Board President Lucienne Robillard expressing their disappointment and concerns with the government’s recent bargaining tactics.

In another letter, the Committee expressed their profound appreciation to the four PSAC negotiating teams bargaining with Treasury Board and all other PSAC negotiating teams for their hard work. "You are advancing not only strong economic demands that respect and value the work of our members, but also advancing demands that promote and respect human rights in our workplace."

Meeting in Ottawa earlier this week, the 20-member Committee reviewed the latest developments in bargaining. The Committee is composed of PSAC members from equity groups within the union with racially visible, aboriginal, women and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered group representatives.

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For information:
Patty Ducharme, PSAC REVP, B.C., (604) 862-4001 (cell)
Gerry Halabecki, PSAC REVP, Ontario, (416) 485-3558, #231

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