PSAC delivers pension petition with 100,000 signatures to Jim Flaherty in
Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, June 13 /CNW Telbec/ - Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada welcomed federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to Charlottetown today, by hand delivering a petition signed by 100,000 people. The petition calls on the federal government to protect public service pensions and expand CPP and OAS to guarantee retirement security for all Canadians. PSAC represents 172,000 workers, primarily in the federal public sector.

PSAC National President John Gordon had personally invited Flaherty to accept PSAC's pension petition and National Executive Vice-President Patty Ducharme took the initiative to hand deliver it to him at the airport this morning.

Flaherty is in Charlottetown along with provincial and territorial finance ministers, engaging in discussions about the future of pensions in Canada. PSAC's message to them was clear: "Hands off our pensions! Improve retirement security for everyone!"

"Our members have made their voices heard from coast-to-coast-to-coast," said Ducharme. "Their top priority is ensuring that the federal government protects the Public Service Pension Plan and increases retirement support to all Canadians, through programs such as the CPP/QPP and OAS. Everyone has the right to retire with dignity, and our union is doing everything in its power to make this a reality."

CPP benefits need to be improved significantly in order to achieve real retirement security for Canadians. "Many workers in Canada do not have workplace pension plans and moderate expansion of CPP is a step in the right direction but doesn't go far enough," said Gordon

The union joined the Canadian Labour Congress earlier today, to decorate the road to the Crowbush Resort with messages demanding secure and sustainable pensions for everyone. PSAC invites workers to attend a Sunday Picnic for Pensions at a cottage near the resort.

For further information: or to book interviews: Catherine Gilbert, PSAC Communications (in Charlottetown this weekend) 613-222-2540 (cell)