/R E P E A T -- The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre Labour Relations Update/

OTTAWA, Jan. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre continues to make the safety and security of the vulnerable clients we serve our primary concern. We have continued to meet, without interruption, the needs of our clients during the strike which began 3 weeks ago on January 6^th, 2012.

The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre and PSAC have established a working strike protocol which continues to allow full access to emergency shelter and services to clients.  The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre management are grateful to PSAC and the striking workers for maintaining respectful strike action.

The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre values its employees and the important contribution they make in caring for our vulnerable clients which is why we have continued to provide benefits to the striking employees during the month of January and are pleased to have reached an agreement with PSAC that will allow employees to continue to receive the important benefit coverage moving forward during strike action.

The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre's offer presented to its 60 unionized employees back in November, 2011 stands. The offer, which was supported and endorsed by PSAC officials, includes a 7.5% increase over 3 years in addition to a signing bonus of $500 for full-time employees ($250 for part-time employees), 2 additional bereavement days and improvements to vacation entitlement is retroactive to April 1, 2011.  The Salvation Army believes this is a fair and equitable offer for our employees, especially considering the challenging economic times we are facing in Canada and throughout the world.

The Salvation Army remains committed to ending the current labour action, which is why we have negotiated an equitable and fair offer for its employees.  The Salvation Army continues to volunteer to proceed with binding arbitration as a means to resolve the labour strike.

or to set up an interview please contact:

Michael Maidment
Area Director, Public Relations and Development
Tel: [phone]
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Caroline Franks
Public Relations Specialist
Tel: [phone] ext. 231
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