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Union UpdateFebruary 2007
PSAC ready to defend federal public servicesThe Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is putting the defence of quality public services on the bargaining table in the upcoming round of negotiations with the federal government for over 100,000 federal public sector workers. “PSAC members are proud of the role they play in the daily lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” said National President John Gordon. “Our negotiations serve a larger purpose as Canadians across the country want more public services and are prepared to pay for them, not further cuts to our public services. The work we do at the bargaining table and in the community is about building a better Canada.” The union held a national bargaining conference in Ottawa February 1- 4 for its five Treasury Board bargaining units and for its bargaining unit at the Parks Canada Agency. PSAC members, who attended regional bargaining conferences in late 2006, spent four days reviewing bargaining priorities established by the 2006 PSAC Triennial Convention and bargaining demands submitted by PSAC Locals. They also took time to talk about mobilization strategies geared both to bargaining and the next federal election, acknowledging that an election is likely to be held at some point during this round of bargaining. “We cannot allow the Harper government to sell off our public services and dismantle this country,” said Gordon. “We have already witnessed cuts that are affecting our ability to respond to environmental crises in our fisheries and forests. We have seen the government slash funding to the Status of Women and to literacy programs, end the Court Challenges, close the Canada Labour and Business Centre and shut down many other programs that promoted the health, human rights and equity of Canadians.” Gordon is concerned that the upcoming federal budget will bring more cuts and fewer services. “As a result, our priorities must be to promote and enhance public services and to restore pride to federal public sector workers.” Delegates to the conference also elected members who will serve on the union negotiating teams for the Program and Administrative Services (PA) group, the Operational Services (SV) group, the Technical Services (TC) group, the Education and Library Science (EB) group, the Frontière/Border Services (FB) group and for the Parks Canada unit. The negotiating team members will be meeting later this month to finalize the package of bargaining demands in preparation for the exchange of demands with the employer. While the first Treasury Board contract does not expire until June 20, PSAC is committed to filing notice to bargain at the earliest possible opportunity. For better health, safety regulations and enforcementPSAC members must make use of every forum available to speak out against deregulation and the implementation of measures that weaken their health and safety protection and their environment. This was one of the messages heard at the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) National Health and Safety Conference held in Ottawa from January 19 to 21, 2007. PSAC National President John Gordon told delegates that “Canadians need a government that responds to the public's needs, not to the desires of large corporations. We all need quality public services provided by our unionized members, who enjoy good health and safety protection. It's our challenge, but it's also our right.” More than 300 PSAC members attended the Conference, the theme of which was “Regulation Works”. Together union members devised strategies to: counter the federal government's push to scale down occupational health and safety and environmental regulations; improve enforcement of health and safety legislation to better protect workers; and dispel the myth of the careless employee. Members also debated resolutions some of which will be forwarded to the Alliance Executive Committee for action and the rest will be forwarded to the next PSAC Triennial Convention. According to PSAC National President John Gordon, “Several PSAC members are suffering from the actions of various governments to weaken the regulation system. The move to greater deregulation, whether it be in the form of Smart Regulations, Risk Management, or Canada bowing to pressure from the World Trade Organization, is bad for workers, for Canadian communities and for public safety. It also has a direct impact on our social programs.” More and more employers are implementing worker behaviour-based safety programs, yet the number of occupational accidents continues to rise, according to Conference panelist Nancy Lessin, the AFL-CIO Health and Safety Coordinator. Worker behaviour-based safety programs are yet one more way of achieving deregulation. These programs are based on the notion that the work performed by the individual is at the core of the problem, rather than the work process or the working environment itself which is controlled by the employer. Ms. Lessin maintains that Canadian employers are attempting to encourage the Canadian government to follow the U.S. example and scale back the enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations. According to Patty Ducharme, the PSAC National Vice-President and Co-chair of the Conference, “These programs are attempts to have workers bear the burden of the accidents they fall victim to. PSAC members need to be aware of the harmful nature of such programs and identify effective ways of countering them. More than one million occupational accidents occur each year which claim more than 1,000 lives in Canada, and we believe that the federal government must continue to improve regulations and legislation in this area and ensure that they are enforced. Sadly, we currently see the exact opposite trend.” Jérôme Turcq, the Co-chair of the Conference and the Regional Executive Vice President of PSAC-Quebec, added that “the Conservative government in power, following the example set by its predecessor, has made a firm move toward deregulation, outsourcing and the transfer of its responsibilities. We know this trend is not intended to better protect our rights or our health.” Black History MonthBlack History Month is celebrated in Canada to recognize the contributions and achievements of Black peoples to the growth and development of this country and their importance to Canada's history. It's more than 80 years ago since Black American scholar and historian Carter G. Woodson started Black History Week to highlight the contributions of Black peoples. In December 1995, the Parliament of Canada officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine, M.P. of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. PSAC would like to take this opportunity to recognize the important sacrifices and contributions of people of African heritage to the nation-building of Canada since the early 1600s. The proud, rich history and heritage of African Canadians can no longer be ignored. Society, schools, governments and unions must address the systemic exclusion that has been practised by our institutions, omitting or devaluing the experiences of our African Canadian sisters and brothers. The PSAC has committed itself to bringing this inequity to the forefront of the struggle and finding systemic solutions to this systemic problem. Part of this solution is the Union's Defending Quality Public Service framework, which aims to protect and promote accessible and equitable public services for all Canadians. PSAC reaffirms its commitment to combating racism in the workplace and the Union and extends this invitation to every PSAC member to contribute to the forging of solidarity between all Sisters and Brothers. The PSAC is encouraging its members to commemorate Black History Month by organizing or participating in an event that raises awareness about this month, particularly the contributions of Black workers in the Canadian labour movement. Notify the PSAC's Programs Section of any activities you hold by calling (613) 560-4387 or by e-mail at lambas@psac.com. March 8, 2007 is International Women’s Day:
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