October 4th

OTTAWA - One more Conciliation Board has recommended increases that point the way to a settlement of escalating strikes in the federal public sector, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). The Conciliation Board for PSAC members in Treasury Board's Technical Services Group (Table 3) issued its report today.

"A trend is being set by Conciliation Boards that have given serious consideration to the question of wage increases for our members," indicates PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. "The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Conciliation Board and now this one have both recommended an increase in the first year of 3%, recognizing that inflation alone in 2003 was 2.8%.".

Read more at Canada Newswire (link to cnw.ca opens in new window).

October 4th

What happens to our collective agreement when we’re on strike?

The “Notice to Bargain” essentially freezes the terms and conditions of employment outlined in your collective agreement during the negotiations process. However, once we are in a legal strike position, the freeze no longer applies and the collective agreement is no longer in force.

posted October 4th : via email.

Strike Report, Monday, October 4th

Fabulous day, weather-wise and attitude-wise!

In Penticton: we served coffee and home baked treats to the inside workers from 9AM til 11AM. We had copied the message from Betty Bannon regarding the Back to Work Legislation, provided the Email addresses for our local MP's and a suggestion for the email message :

"This potential legislation will impact not only the workers, their futures, but that of the communities we live in. Please consider the workers, who are the face of government, when you cast your vote, vote against this legislation. Negotiate not Legislate."

Read more here.

Perhaps the following story can provide some background to PSAC's accusation that Treasury Board engages in unfair bargaining practises...

The leaders of Russia, Canada and the United States are at a security conference when George W. Bush claims the U.S. has the most efficient Intelligence Service in the world. Paul Martin and President Putin each claim they have the best intelligence gathering apparatus.

"OK, let's bet on it," says President Bush. " We'll let a rabbit loose in the woods.  Whoever can locate it first will win."

The other two leaders accept the bet, and the rabbit is let loose.

Click here for the punchline.

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has confirmed that negotiations will take place with the Canada Revenue Agency.

According to PSAC National President Nycole Turmel, the parties have agreed to return to the table, starting Friday, October 8th.

According to Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) National President Betty Bannon, “we are resuming negotiations in hopes of reaching a settlement with the Agency.  If the employer has the will and is prepared to work diligently over the weekend, we believe this dispute can be resolved.”

Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise (CEUDA) National President Ron Moran also believes that an agreement can be reached.  “We hope the employer is coming to the table with the same resolve as our negotiating team to reach a fair and equitable agreement.”

Turmel also confirms that “effective October 7th, all strike action by our Canada Revenue Agency members will be postponed until October 12th.” 

There are 25,000 PSAC members at the CRA.  Their contract expired on October 31, 2003.

October 6th

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada and Parks Canada Agency are returning to the bargaining table in an attempt to reach a settlement covering 4,800 Parks employees.

“It is our hope that Parks Canada is finally coming to the table with a mandate to negotiate a collective agreement that truly reflects that true value of Parks employees,” says PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President (Atlantic) Jeannie Baldwin.  “We expect the employer to take the process seriously and work with us towards a new collective agreement.”

Negotiations are expected to resume by this weekend.

“As a gesture of good faith, the union is postponing strike actions at national parks, historic sites, conservation areas and canals by our Parks Canada Agency members until October 12th,” confirms Baldwin. “Our intent has always been to achieve a fair collective agreement that our members deserve.”

Parks Canada workers have been on strike since August 13, 2004.

CHRC Stakeholder Consultations

The Canadian Human Rights Commission is inviting you to provide your thoughts and observations on the impact of the recent reforms we have undertaken in our human rights management system, and on our plans for continuous improvement.

Read more on the Human Rights Committe page.

Click here for some photos

October 8th

Penticton PSAC members formed their own hockey teams on October 06, 2004 to attract the same level of interest from the Prime Minister as he showed in a swift resolution to current the NHL strike.  We are definitely team players!

October 8th: via email

It seems that Treasury Board - like a hockey player at an all you can eat buffet - has decided to make one final trip to the table.

Let's hope the following story  doesn't reflect the attitude they will bring with them...

Three federal Cabinet Ministers - from Health Canada, Justice, and Treasury Board - were on a fact finding safari in Africa. Their jeep broke down in a storm, and the only way to safety was to swim across a crocodile infested river.

The Minister of Health went first, and managed to make it to the other side with the loss of only one arm.

The Justice Minister than dove in. He lost a leg to the crocodiles, but managed to make it to shore alive.

Finally the President of Treasury Board waded into the water. He swam across at a leisurely pace, and arrived on the other side without a scratch.

As usual, click here for the punchline.

Approximately 125,000 PSAC members have started strike action as of 12:01 a.m. October 12th as negotiations continue with Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency.

PSAC has, pending a review of written documents, a tentative agreement with Parks Canada. Therefore, strike action by the union’s 4,800 members at the Parks Canada Agency has been suspended. The 1,000 members in the Treasury Board Education and Library Science group (Table 5) are not in a legal strike position.

Details at the national website.

Parks has reached a tentative settlement, the documents have been finalized. Strike action is therefore suspended and Parks members are returning to work.

Talks continued well into the morning for PSAC members at CRA, and Treasury Board Tables 1,2,3, and 5. The teams took a rest, but talks have not broken off at any table and are scheduled to resume in short order.

This morning at one minute past midnight, our members in a legal strike position at CRA, TB 1,2, and 3, began taking strike action. Ships crews members took strike action: 9 ships were forced to come back to port. Picket lines have been set up at military bases, airports, penetentiaries, tax centers, and other locations across the country. We expect strike action to take place until tentative agreements are reached.

Here is the status of negotiations (as of 9AM EST):

• Parks Canada agreement reached
• PSAC TB 2, talks resuming, settlement likely within hours.
• Treasury Board TB 1,3: talks resuming, a number of complex issues remain outstanding.
• CRA: talks resuming this morning. 
• TB 5: talks resuming.

We are encouraged by the tentative agreement at Parks Canada and by the progress made at Table 2 and CRA, but there is still work to be done at both the negotiating table and the political level.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has reached a tentative agreement with Parks Canada Agency late last night, ending a two-month-old strike among 4,800 Parks workers.

Highlights of the tentative agreement, which expires August 4, 2007, include:

• annual wage increases across the board of 2.5% retroactive to August 2003, 2.25% for 2004, 2.4% for 2005 and 2.5% for 2006;
• additional salary adjustments ranging from 2.6% to 19%, that will go towards closing a wage disparity identified by a Treasury Board-PSAC pay study; and various other improvements.

Although Parks members will not be on strike, they are urged to respect picket lines at work sites they share with other bargaining units who are on strike by calling their supervisors to escort them through the lines.

October 12th

OTTAWA –The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reached a tentative agreement late in the afternoon on October 12 with Treasury Board on behalf of some 10,000 members in the Operational Services Group (Table 2).  Therefore the strike is suspended for this group.

“Like our Parks Canada members, Table 2 workers conducted an effective strike,” said Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President.  “They forced the Employer to increase its wage offer and to narrow the wage gap that exists with workers doing similar jobs in both the private and public sectors.”

According to Jerome Turcq, PSAC Vice-President for Quebec, “the tentative agreement contains salary adjustments ranging from 2.6% to 19% that will go towards closing a wage disparity identified by a joint Treasury Board-PSAC pay study last fall. The salary increases totaling more than 10% over four years, increases in some allowances and better working conditions are also part of this tentative agreement.”

Highlights of the agreement that, if ratified, would expire on August 4, 2007 include:

• A wage increase of 2.5% retroactive to August 2003, 2.25% for 2004, 2.4% for 2005 and 2.5% for 2006;
• On August 5, 2003, and in addition to the 2.5% increase, additional salary adjustments ranging from 2.6% to 19% will be added to address the wage gap identified in the joint pay study;
• The Dangerous Goods Allowance will now apply to a greater number of members;
• A new one-time five-days entitlement in lieu of the current marriage leave provisions.

The tentative agreement will now be presented to the 10,000 members for a ratification vote. Details of the vote will be coming during the next few weeks.

Click for more photos.

October 12th

Briefly, from Jack Rudd, TB Regional Strike Coordinator:

Pickets were up at hundreds of locations in British Columbia today. Strike structure officers finally saw all of their hardwork from the last month pay off in a huge turnout of Alliance members on the line with a minimum of last minute problems. Even small groups of picketers were in high spirits. Feedback from the line is that members are not willing to settle for any concessions.

There was excellent media coverage with many members and strike structure officers interviewed in the local media. Click to see what the media is saying (link to google.ca opens in new window).

Cheers to Linda Pelan, CEIU 20939, for the first TB strike photos. Check back soon, as there will be more.

The federal Liberals are on the brink of announcing a whopping budget surplus that is almost five times what was predicted.

The Liberals had projected a surplus of $1.9 billion for the fiscal year that ended March 31. But CTV News reported Tuesday night that the surplus is expected to be closer to $9 billion.

Read more at ctv.ca (link opens in new window)

October 13th: rabble.ca

CEOs aside, reason and good sense are on the side of the union, not the government.

125,000 workers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada struck the federal government at midnight on Oct. 11. Despite a conciliation board report for the important Table 1 talks (involving 80,000 PSAC workers) that charged negotiators to get down to business, and reach an agreement on the important outstanding issues, Treasury Board President Reg Alcock has forced PSAC to take to the streets to win their demands for a better working life.

“Should I be surprised the Liberal government is not looking after the interest of working Canadians?” was how economist Mel Watkins greeted the strike news.

Read more at rabble.ca (link opens in new window)

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has negotiated a tentative agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), as the union entered its sixth week of strike action.

“The tentative agreement provides significant improvements for term workers who make up almost a quarter of the Agency’s workers,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.  Without strike action by our members, we would not have been able to move the employer and to negotiate these improvements.”

Read more, including some preliminary details, here.

Members working for CRA should report to work tomorrow.

PSAC was expecting to receive an offer from Treasury board for Tables 1, 3 and 5 by 10:00PM EST on Thursday, October 14th. At 10:00PM, Treasury Board called PSAC National President Nycole Turmel and advised that the offers would not be presented until 11:00AM EST Friday morning. Your negotiating teams will consider the employer's offer as soon as it is received.

Your union believes that Treasury Board's action is simply an attempt to penalize our members for exercising their legal right to strike. For this reason, our members at Tables 1 and 3 are to return to work on Friday. Only strategic strike action will take place on Friday.

Our strike lines to date have put significant pressure on Treasury Board. Your actions have made a difference.

While most of our members at Tables 1 and 3 are in the workplace on Friday, they remain in a legal strike position and should conduct themselves accordingly.

The employer returned to the table this morning with a final offer. The Tables 1 and 3 Negotiating Teams have assessed the offer and have decided to bring it back to the membership for a ratification vote. The teams are unanimously recommending that this offer be rejected.

Tables 1 and 3 remain in a legal strike position, however, for October 15th, the only activities planned are strategic.

October 15th

OTTAWA - Pending the results of membership votes, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has concluded negotiations with Treasury Board.

After a delay of more than 12 hours, Treasury Board finally tabled an offer with the union at 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning. According to PSAC National President Nycole Turmel, the union negotiating teams for the Program and Administrative Services Group (Table 1), the Technical Services Group (Table 3) and the Education and Library Science Group (Table 5) have now completed their review of the respective offers.

"Our Table 1 and 3 negotiating teams are unanimously recommending that our members reject the employer's last offer," says Turmel. "While they may have been prepared to accept Treasury Board's monetary offer of 2.5%, 2.25%, 2.4% and 2.5% over a four-year agreement, they are not willing to accept the employer's demands for concessions."

Some of the issues that have not been satisfactorily resolved include the partial loss of the terminable allowance for members at the Canadian Grain Commission who stand to lose up to $3,000 a year; the loss of $2,000 a year in an enforcement allowance for fisheries officers, the lump sum payments, instead of a salary increase, that Treasury Board is insisting be imposed on many PSAC members who were transferred to the Canada Border Services Agency, as well as the loss of a day is a day for family-related and other leaves.

"The issues that have forced our teams to recommend rejection of the offers could easily have been resolved by the employer," indicates Turmel. "Our teams are disgusted, and so am I, with the employer's final offer and the lack of respect Treasury Board has shown for our members, their employees."

The Table 5 negotiating team has reached a tentative agreement with the employer and is recommending its acceptance. It is a four-year agreement with increases of 2.5% in 2003, 2.25% in 2004, 2.4% in 2005 and 2.5% in 2006 as well as some specific gains such as allowances and professional development. In addition, language has been negotiated on protection for whistleblowers, the PSAC's Social Justice Fund and a renewal of the Joint Learning Program until the subsequent collective agreement is signed. These last three gains will be applied to all PSAC's agreements with Treasury Board.

"Ours is a democratic union," says Turmel. "The tentative agreement for Table 5 will be presented to our members with a recommendation to accept. The employer's offer to Tables 1 and 3, together with our teams' recommendations for rejection, will also be presented to the members."

Turmel confirms that "while these votes are taking place, the union is still in a legal strike position but we will suspend general strike action."

"I want to thank all of our members who have taken strike action, our negotiating teams and our staff. Without their support and dedication, we would not have moved the employer as far as we have."

OTTAWA –The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is pleased to announce that it reached a tentative agreement late in the evening on October 15 with The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on behalf of some 3,600 members. The agreement reached at the Conciliation Board stage of negotiations averts a strike by PSAC CFIA members.

Read more, including preliminary details, here.

Click for more photos

October 16th

The Treasury Board strike photo gallery has been updated: photos from Downtown Vancouver, Nanaimo, & PAC Highway.

Send us your strike photos, and we'll post them!

North Island ASC, Gail Jewsbury, was interviewed by the Parksville-Qualicum Beach News.

Video of Nycole Turmel's news conference, October 15th,  is online at the National website (windows media file).

When federal gun registry costs skyrocketed from $200 million to $1 billion, why did no government employee come forward to alert the public to the spending mayhem?

Why did no public servant take action to address the out of control Quebec sponsorship program? After all, we know, thanks to Commons committee testimony last spring, many were fuming at the way money was being thrown around.

The list of scandals and boondoggles that have emerged thanks either to access to information queries or media scrutiny is lamentably long.

Read more at canada.com (link opens in new window).

Click for the photos

October 20th

Visit the TB photo gallery for new photos from HRC Surrey, Penticton, and Downtown. Thanks to everyone who's sent photos!

Carol Fagan, Pres. AGR 20043 would like to thank DHL Express drivers and the managers, designates and PIPSC members of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Kamloops for providing hot drinks and donuts during the Oct. 12-14 strike days. It was much appreciated! Also a big thanks to regional strike coordinator Dave Leicester who made sure we were all kept up to date and organized

Check out this video (2.2 mb .mov file), sent to us by Harold Larsen: HRDC management from Kelowna having to drive 1.5 hours to escort designates into work in Penticton.

A Treasury Board Negotiator drove his SUV through a group of striking PSAC workers in Ottawa, killing two of them. The Negotiator was given a promotion, and the two PSAC members - who had behaved badly on the picket line - were immediately transported to Hell.

After a few days the Devil stopped by to check up on how they were doing.

The picketers  were roasting hot dogs over a fire and drinking beer. They didn't appear to be bothered at all by the heat, even though everyone else around them was sweltering.

The Devil was astonished. 'Why aren't you people suffering?  All the other sinners are burning up in the heat.'

Read on.

The national website has been updated, click for:

Information on salary adjustments for Parks Canada Agency members.

Details of the tentative agreement reached at Treasury Board's Table 2.

Highlights of the tentative agreement reached by the PSAC on behalf of its 1,100 Table 5 members.

Highlights of the tentative agreement reached by the PSAC on behalf of its 3,600 members working at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Read about Treasury Boards offer to PSAC’s Program and Administrative Services (Table 1) Group.

Click for more photos

October 22nd

More strike photos: AGR 20060 members picketing the Grain Commission office and photos from Downtown Vancouver.

Thanks everyone who's sent in, literally, hundreds of pictures for the Parks, CRA and TB strike galleries, and keep them coming!

To: All Locals, Branches, National Officers, RVPs/NVPs, Regional
Committees, Area Councils

Re: 3rd Triennial Regional Convention April 8 - 10, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Below you will find the call letter to the above convention as well as several self-explanatory attachments.

Delegates to this convention, for the first time, will not only elect our Regional Council Coordinators, but also the Regional Executive Vice-President and the Alternate REVP.

Visit the Convention 2005 pages for more: the call letter, deligate nomination form, and the pertinent regulations.