Term Workers and the Strike Vote

The demands put forward by PSAC in the current round of bargaining with the Treasury Board could bring about real improvements to term workers’ working conditions. But it will take solidarity to achieve them.

Under current Treasury Board policy, term workers acquire indeterminate status after three years of employment with Treasury Board. During this round of bargaining, PSAC is proposing to reduce the required employment period for conversion to two years and to incorporate the policy into the collective agreement, so that it cannot be removed or changed unilaterally by the employer.

PSAC is also asking for a special adjudication procedure for term workers who feel they have not been renewed because the employer is trying to avoid giving them indeterminate status.

The union has tabled another important change that would allow term workers to earn pay increments based on 52 weeks of cumulative service and increases in vacation leave on the same basis as seasonal employees. If achieved, these would be major gains for terms.

The Paul Martin government has already instituted an in-depth review of the way federal public services are delivered to Canadians. This may result in a reorganization of the federal public sector that could have a negative impact on term workers and reduce the overall number of workers. As often happens in these cases, term workers could be among the first and the hardest hit.

Your union believes that a solid collective agreement can help reduce the negative impact of government reorganization on term workers, but a strong agreement can be achieved only if members give their negotiating teams strong support.

PSAC members have always had to fight for any improvements to their salaries and working conditions. For example, the current Treasury Board policy on conversion to indeterminate status only came about because PSAC members demonstrated their strength and solidarity through strike action in 2001.

So far, Treasury Board has refused to move on our demands to improve conditions for term workers. That's just one of the reasons your union is conducting a strike vote. A strike vote does not mean that we will necessarily go on strike. But we will need to show the government that we are ready to do what it takes to obtain a fair settlement. A strong strike vote from all PSAC members working at Treasury Board – including term workers – will send that message.

Together we make a difference. Over 100,000 of us, term and indeterminate workers together, are a force to be reckoned with. Our history shows that together we have a chance of making some gains; individually we’ll get nothing.

To get more information on what is happening and what you can do to support demands for term workers, contact your Local strike captain, your Local executive or call the PSAC regional office in your area or your Component office.