10,000 striking PSAC workers reach deal, strike continues for 90,000
CBC News | Posted: October 12, 2004 8:43 AM | Last Updated: October 13, 2004
More than 10,000 striking civil servants have reached a deal with the federal government that includes a pay raise that could add up to 10 per cent over four years.
The workers, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), went on strike midnight Monday, and reached the agreement early Tuesday evening.
PSAC said the strike was suspended for the 10,000 workers, including maintenance staff, ship crews and firefighters, but about 115,000 other union members are still striking.
Contract talks will resume Wednesday morning in an effort to end the strike by the rest of the membership.
The 10 per cent raise, an average of 2.5 per cent a year, is halfway between the government's offer of 2 per cent and the union demand of 3 per cent.
The deal, which has to be approved by union members at votes over the next few weeks, also includes adjustments of 2.6 per cent to 19 per cent "that will go towards closing a wage disparity identified in a joint [union-government] pay study," PSAC Quebec vice-president Jerome Turcq said in a release.
Strike will be short, parties say
Thousands of PSAC members set up picket lines across the country early Tuesday, as contract negotiations continued and both sides in the dispute predicted a short work stoppage.
"We're not talking about weeks here," PSAC president Nycole Turmel said. "We're talking about hours and days."
Lise Jolicoeur, a spokesperson for Treasury Board President Reg Alcock, said both parties were looking for a quick solution.
The strike affects 100,000 workers from dozens of government departments, including firefighters, parole officers and coast guard workers, along with 25,000 members of the Canada Revenue Agency. "We have strong picket lines, and they are really supportive of their [negotiating] teams. Their teams will do the job today as much as we can and we will try to deliver an agreement for everybody in the public sector."
Parks Canada deal
Negotiators did reach a tentative deal early on Tuesday for about 5,000 Parks Canada workers who have been on strike since August.
Turmel said it is a four-year deal that includes pay hikes of between 2.25 and 2.5 per cent every year.
The deal has yet to be presented to the workers.
If the broader PSAC strike continues, it will affect 70 departments and agencies that deliver services including: - EI applications, Old Age Security, Canada Pension and veterans' pensions.
- Weather-data gathering.
- Revenue Canada payments.
- RCMP security clearances.
- Visa extensions.
- Health Canada's drug approval process.
- Meals and logistical support for the armed forces.
Turmel said a key issue on the table with Revenue Canada was protection for contract employees.
Otherwise, negotiators are focusing on wages.