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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                December 20, 2002

 PSAC calls TBS’s new Term Employment Policy
a step in the right direction 

OTTAWA - A new term employment policy released today by the Federal Treasury Board is a big step forward in the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) continuing efforts to promote the rights and benefits of term employees in the public service.

“This new policy signifies Treasury Board’s recognition that there are abuses in the treatment of term employees and the use of term employment and that they have to be addressed,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.  “However, there are still a few things we, as union, need to continue pushing for.”

Under the new policy, term employees who have worked in the same department for a cumulative period of three years, without interruption of more than 60 days, must be given an indeterminate status.  Federal government departments and agencies have from April 1, 2003, to April 1, 2004, to begin applying the policy and are accountable for the results of its implementation.  Previously, term employees had to have worked a cumulative period of five years in the same position before becoming permanent.

Another positive step is that the policy provides for a review mechanism, allowing for an appeal process for term employees who may believe they are not being renewed to keep them from becoming indeterminate.

“Term employees now have a voice when it comes to determining their work status,” says Turmel.  “In fact, the whole policy will help in the recruitment and retention of public service workers and in stabilizing the government.  It will also contribute to the Canadian economy by boosting consumer confidence by creating permanent jobs.”

Recommendations released in August 2002 from a joint study by the PSAC and Treasury Board on the use of term employment were considered in the formulation of the new policy.  The joint study was the result of an agreement the PSAC had negotiated in the last round of collective bargaining with Treasury Board.  However, the study had called for making term employees indeterminate after a cumulative work period of two years.

“We don’t consider the policy an outright victory,” says Turmel.  “We wanted the two years as recommended in the study, and we wanted a fast-tracked implementation of the policy by no later than March 2003.  But we can’t deny that we’re advancing step-by-step.”

The PSAC is also disappointed with other provisions in the new policy, such as the fact that departments can implement the policy any time at their discretion, as long as they implement it within the designated one-year period.  Furthermore, departments can opt out of the policy if they can prove that implementing the policy will result in workforce adjustments in their department, such as producing surplus workers. The policy also does not address the fact that members of equity groups, such as visible minorities, women and Aboriginals, are over-represented in the term-employee population, a point brought up in the August 2002 joint study.

“We will be vigilant and will make sure that the policy is implemented by all departments and agencies,” says Turmel.  “At the same time, we’ll continue to fight to advance the rights and interests of our term and all members until we win all the necessary gains.”

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For information:         Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President, (613) 560-4330

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