Information Notice - TBS Encourages PSAC to Respect Scheduled June Negotiations

Date: 28 May 2008

TBS Encourages PSAC to Respect Scheduled June Negotiations

Ottawa May 28 2008 – The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is disappointed that the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has cancelled 20 days of negotiations sessions scheduled for June. In addition, PSAC has indicated that it is not prepared to set other negotiation dates until September 2008. The Treasury Board Secretariat encourages PSAC to continue negotiations at the bargaining table, as planned, to proceed with a constructive discussion with respect to monetary items as well as other outstanding issues.

The cancellation of the June negotiations will leave 100,000 public servants without a renewed contract for an even longer period and means there will be no opportunity until September at the earliest to discuss the initial pay proposals tabled by the Employer for the Program and Administrative Services (PA), Border Services (FB), Technical Services (TC), and Operational Services (SV). These negotiations are critical to moving forward towards a resolution.

The Treasury Board Secretariat is committed to the collective-bargaining process and to reaching a negotiated settlement. It remains available to meet with PSAC to discuss monetary issues for the PA, SV, and TC groups during the scheduled dates of June 10 to 13, 2008 and for the FB group from June 16 to 19, 2008.

The Treasury Board Secretariat has been negotiating in good faith and in accordance with reaching an outcome that is affordable to taxpayers, fair to employees and fair to Canadians.

Regular updates on collective bargaining are posted on the Treasury Board Secretariat Web site.