OTTAWA - "Public Service Alliance of Canada members working in federal government offices in Sydney, Nova Scotia, have been put under undue pressure in the last couple of days because the proper health and safety procedures were not followed by all employers in the Dorchester Street federal building," says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.

"We fought long and hard to get Part II of the Canada Labour Code changed so that workers all across the country would have better health and safety protection in their workplaces. In light of the aftermath of September 11 involving anthrax and suspicious package events, it is the responsibility of employers within the federal jurisdiction to follow the legislation and ensure that proper health and safety measures are in place in all their workplaces," Turmel adds. "If training is required, then training must be done."

The National President of the PSAC’s Union of Taxation Employees (UTE), Betty Bannon, said that the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) has followed the proper procedures for her members. "The Occupational Health and Safety Committee and the Union Representative were contacted immediately and the building was evacuated. The CCRA members were given an emergency phone number to use for receiving updates and instructions regarding the situation," confirmed Bannon.

However, for workers at the Citizenship and Immigration office such procedures were not followed. "Last January during the ‘suspicious package scare’ in Ottawa at Immigration Canada, we were assured that procedures had been put in place and would be followed in any further incidents," says Jeannette Meunier-McKay, national executive vice-president of the PSAC’s Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU). "The procedures specify immediate contact with the union and the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. This did not happen," Meunier-McKay added.

"We would urge all employers to work in an open and transparent manner with their unions and release the results of testing associated with such incidents," adds Ed Cashman, national president of the PSAC’s National Component. "Members of our union and their colleagues in the workplace need to be reassured that their personal safety while at work remains a high priority for their employer and their union," Cashman adds.

Turmel says the union will continue to monitor the situation and will work through the PSAC Occupational Safety and Health Committees at the Local, regional and national levels to prevent similar reoccurrences. "Fear has been heightened amongst the public and our members because of September 11^th. The PSAC will do everything it can to ensure our members work in a healthy and safe environment."

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For information:
Betty Bannon, national president, PSAC/Union of Taxation Employees (613) 235-6704
Ed Cashman, national president, PSAC/National Component (613) 560-4301
Jeannette Meunier-McKay, national executive vice-president, PSAC/Canada Employment and Immigration Union
(613) 236-9634

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