Statistical Survey Operations
Talks Break Down in SSO Regional Office Negotiations
PSAC SSO Regional Office Bargaining Team Declares Impasse and Files for Arbitration
Since February, our Bargaining Team for the Regional Office group has met with Stats Can management on numerous occasions in an effort to reach a new collective agreement. From the very beginning of the process, we have indicated clearly to management that we are looking for significant improvements to our working conditions, improvements that reflect what has been agreed to by other federal employers. These include: rights for employees in the context of work assignment, including the recognition of employee seniority; protections against harassment; wages that match what other federal employees are being paid for similar work. We have also proposed protections to ensure that we do not lose pensionable hours. We have discussed all of these proposals at length in negotiations, those concerning work assignment and pension accrual in particular.
This week our team met again with SSO in negotiations. By the end of the second day (October 3rd), management indicated to us that it was not prepared to include any new protections or rights whatsoever in our contract with respect to work assignment. Nor was management prepared to agree to wage parity with other federal public servants.
As a result, our Bargaining Team has filed for arbitration with the Public Service Labour Board. We indicated to management that, should SSO be prepared to finally address our concerns with respect to work assignment and parity with other federal workers, we will be prepared to meet and negotiate.
We are not second class workers. We deserve better. Much better.
We’ll be sure to update as things progress. We will now await news from the Labour Relations Board. If you have any questions, follow up with your Shop Steward or a member of our Bargaining Team.
Date Modified : 2012/10/04
