PSAC Reaches Tentative Agreements with Treasury Board - Three agreements
reached; Exploratory talks end for Border and Technical Services

OTTAWA, Oct 4 /CNW/ - The Public Service Alliance of Canada reached a tentative deal today for new collective agreements for three of its five bargaining units with Treasury Board.  Agreements for the PA, SV and EB groups will go into force only if they are ratified by members in votes over the coming weeks.  Exploratory talks for the Border Services (FB) and Technical Services (TC) groups ended without agreement and regular bargaining will resume in 2011.

Treasury Board approached PSAC to engage in early exploratory talks on contracts that expire in 2011. PSAC agreed to enter into negotiations with a view to providing economic security to our members at a time of economic uncertainty.  Unfortunately, Treasury Board was not willing to provide sufficient improvement to the contracts for the Border Services and Technical Services groups.

"We have had a challenging two weeks at the bargaining table," said John Gordon, National President of PSAC.  "While we are pleased that three of our bargaining teams were able to reach agreements, we are disappointed with the lack of movement by Treasury Board and particularly some government departments on long-standing economic and workplace issues for our border and technical services members."

PSAC negotiated wage increases totalling 5.3% for members of the PA, SV and EB bargaining units over the next three years. These groups were also able to solve long-standing problems that will improve day-to-day working conditions for employees.

In addition to wage increases, the tentative agreements include important changes to severance pay.  The accumulation of severance pay on retirement and resignation will come to an end.  All indeterminate employees will have the right to cash-out the equivalent of one week of pay for each year of service, up to a maximum of 30 years of service, with the cash out for partial years of service prorated. Term employees with at least one year of employment will have the right to a cash-out equivalent to one week for each completed year of service.

Severance pay on layoff will be enhanced for longer service workers, and severance for other involuntary departures will continue to accumulate for all employees.

"We are confident that we got a fair deal for many of our members which will lead to permanent improvements to working conditions," said Gordon. "We are nevertheless very disappointed with Treasury Board for their unwillingness to address important issues for Border and Technical Services."

PSAC is determined to get the concerns of Borders Services and Technical Services members addressed in the coming round of bargaining.  The union will serve notice to bargain for these groups in February 2011.

For more information on the tentative agreements please go to www.psac.com.

For further information:

Shelina Merani, PSAC Communications, 613-293-9324 (cell)