N^o 12

November 7, 1997

PAY EQUITY TALKS CONTINUING

On October 30, PSAC and Treasury Board representatives met to resume talks aimed at bringing about a pay equity settlement. The parties discussed a number of options. Talks are expected to continue sometime in mid-November.

MASSÉ STATEMENTS MISLEADING - AGAIN!

On a recent French language radio program, TB President Marcel Massé left the impression that the government had added more money to its last offer. Not true. His actual statement was that the government had added $500-million to their first offer in April. In other words, the government added $500-million to their original offer of $800-million for a total of $1.3-billion. There is no new money and their offer still falls far short of what is actually owed to PSAC members.

Massé also made recent statements to the effect that he hoped our members would have their cheques by Christmas. Mr. Massé knows very well that for cheques to be out before Christmas, a settlement would have had to be reached by now. Or else the government could issue interim adjustments as was done in 1990. The union has regularly asked TB to give our members the money on the table, pending a final settlement. But once again, Massé reveals his true colours. He knows our members need the money. He hopes to make them believe it's the union's fault if they don't have their cheques soon. MESSAGE TO MR. MASSÉ: your government has been responsible for delaying the process; you're the one who broke off negotiations last September; you're the one who's in a position to issue cheques pending a final settlement - not the union.

TREASURY BOARD AND DEPARTMENTAL MEMOS RAISE QUESTIONS

Before resuming negotiations at the end of October, Treasury Board asked the departments to send out some "key messages" about pay equity to their employees. These key messages were not designed to provide employees with any real information but rather were a transparent attempt to try to bully Alliance members into accepting a 50% solution.

Q: Treasury Board has stated that the Canadian Human Rights Act contains broad statements of principle about pay equity and that the Canadian Human Rights Commission has approved different kinds of methodologies to achieve pay equity. What's the truth?

A: What Treasury Board fails to mention is that in addition to the Act, there are also Commission guidelines on pay equity which are used to implement the principles outlined in the Act. These guidelines require that wage adjustments be tied to the male average rates of pay and that the wage gap must be closed completely, not partially. Different methodologies may be used as long as they close the wage gap completely.

Treasury Board's methodologies don't meet these criteria. In front of the Tribunal, Treasury Board used the lowest male rates of pay. While they have now changed their methodology to use the average rates of pay, their settlement offer is only 65% of what is owed - by their own calculations and admission! By our calculations, their offer is only about 50%.

Q: According to Treasury Board, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has been considering this issue since 1991 and may not report until early 1998. Why the delays?

A: The Tribunal was set up in 1991. However, Treasury Board under both the Conservative and Liberal governments tried to derail and delay the process until it was finally completed in early 1997. The process could have been completed much earlier without these tactics. The very people who caused the delays are now crying crocodile tears about the amount of time it has taken. And, they're asking you to pay for their delays by accepting a 50% settlement!

Q: If we don't settle before the Tribunal makes its ruling, are we looking at even more delays?

A: Contrary to some of Treasury Board's messages, the Tribunal will do more than just rule on principles. It is expected to deal with issues such as retroactivity, damages and interest. Even if the government appealed their ruling, money would still be paid out unless the government asked the Federal Court to hold the payments until the appeal was heard. If the government truly wants you to have your money, why would they try to stop the implementation of the Tribunal's decision?

Q: Last week my manager invited me into her office and asked me questions about how I felt about the government's offer of $1.3-billion for pay equity. I wasn't sure what to do. Can I refuse?

A: It's your choice as to whether or not you wish to express your views to management on this dispute. As the bargaining agent representing our members, the Alliance strongly disagrees with the intimidation tactics being used under the guise of seeking members' opinions. However, if Treasury Board really wants to know how our members feel, this is an excellent time to tell them just what it's been like waiting for pay equity for 13 years! Why not tell them about all the things you, and your family, could have done with the money you're owed - but didn't have. Tell them how these extra dollars could be benefiting your community. Tell them that working without a wage increase for the last five years has just added insult to injury. Tell them what you think about their delaying tactics. And tell them it's time to stop playing games and start obeying the law.