OTTAWA, ONTARIO, August 19, 2004 -- Today, Parks Canada rejected the Public Service Alliance of Canada's (PSAC) use of a "phantom gap" as the basis for strike activities and expressed its continued hope that the union will allow its members to vote on Parks Canada's latest offer. "The central issue used by PSAC executives to order our employees onto the picket line, thereby affecting the holidays plans of millions of visitors and jeopardizing an already fragile tourism industry, is an alleged 20% wage gap between Parks Canada employees and the private sector," said Gaby Fortin, Director General for Western and Northern Canada. "PSAC has stated repeatedly that the source of this number is a study that they conducted with Treasury Board. Parks Canada would like to clarify that we were not a participant in that study and that the numbers cited by the union, which deal mainly with the manufacturing industry, are not relevant to our operational reality," Mr. Fortin added. "In fact, 85% of Parks Canada's operational employees work in positions that were not even included in the PSAC study - including canal workers, visitor services attendants, campground attendants, gate attendants, heritage presentation guides, ranch hands, information attendants, lifeguards, wilderness patrol persons and historical restoration craftspersons." "Not one of these positions were considered in the study but the union continues to use this phantom gap as the basis for the strike", Mr. Fortin stated. "A true comparative analysis requires that you consider similar jobs in similar industries and the truth of the matter is that Parks Canada's latest offer proposes 2004 salary levels for Parks Canada employees that would exceed, on average, those of operational employees in provincial parks by 13%. It should also be noted that Parks employees, as federal public servants, enjoy job security and general benefits that many private sector workers do not." "The union's publicly stated position throughout these negotiations has been consistent: meet our pay demands or we will strike. According to the PSAC web site, the union is, for example, demanding an hourly wage of $20.52 for cleaners," noted Mr. Fortin. "Parks Canada wants to achieve a deal that is fair and reasonable for all of our workers but it needs to be understood that PSAC's wage demands are well above the local market conditions in the rural communities where we operate." "Parks Canada is proud of the valuable contribution that our employees make to communities throughout Canada and we want to continue working with the union to ensure good working conditions for all members of the Parks Canada team," Mr. Fortin added. "Our offer remains on the table. It is fair and reasonable and it offers wage increases that exceed inflation forecasts. We continue to hope that the union executive will submit this offer to its members for a vote." Parks Canada is offering cumulative wage increases ranging from 7% to 11% over three years. According to the PSAC web site, the union is demanding cumulative raises of up to 26% for similar positions. The Bank of Canada is forecasting cumulative inflation of 5.6% in the period 2004-2006. Information: Gaby Fortin Director General Western and Northern Canada Parks Canada (403) 292-4540 Carol Sheedy Director General Eastern Canada Parks Canada (902) 426-5871
