NUPGE pledges full support to striking PSAC members

Ottawa - The National Union of Public and General Employees, Canada's second largest union, has thrown its full support behind federal public employees in their efforts to negotiate new contracts with the Paul Martin Liberal government.

The 337,000-member union's National Executive Board passed a resolution unanimously on Monday in Ottawa, pledging to provide assistance as requested by members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

Approximately 30,000 PSAC members, employed with Parks Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency, are currently on strike against the government and 95,000 more members, who work for two Treasury Board groups and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, will be in a position to walk out by next month.

"NUPGE members in B.C. and Newfoundland have recently seen their contracts ripped up, job cuts, wages frozen and essential public services slashed by anti-public sector provincial governments," says NUPGE president James Clancy.

"We know from harsh experience the fundamental importance of standing together in a common cause. The members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada can count on support and solidarity from NUPGE members during their struggle for a fair and just settlement and to protect federal public sector jobs in communities across Canada."

NUPGE's component unions include most of the major provincial public sector unions in Canada. The text of the resolution approved by the national board is as follows:

National Executive Board resolution
in support of the
Public Service Alliance of Canada

WHEREAS the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have a long history of working together to strengthen the voice of public sector workers in Canada and providing support and solidarity to each other in their struggles;

WHEREAS the new federal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin has failed to live up to its promise to establish a respectful and cooperative relationship with employees of the federal public service and their unions, but instead has shown nothing but contempt for its workers with talk of program cuts, privatization, public-private partnerships and hiring freezes;

WHEREAS the federal government’s approach to its current negotiations with the PSAC is a perfect illustration of the lack of value and respect the government places on public services and the workers who deliver those services across Canada;

WHEREAS PSAC currently has 30,000 of its members employed with Parks Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency involved in strike action and another 95,000 members in two Treasury Board groups and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be in a position to strike within the next month; and

WHEREAS the federal government refuses to present a fair and just offer to PSAC and their members, providing PSAC and its members with no choice but to take strike action.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Union of Public and General Employees strongly support all efforts by the Public Service Alliance of Canada to obtain fair and just settlements for its members;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Union inform the leadership of PSAC that it is prepared to provide whatever assistance PSAC may request of the National Union and its Components to help them in reaching a successful conclusion to its negotiations with the federal government; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the National Union and its Components encourage its members to show solidarity with their PSAC sisters and brothers by participating in picket line support and other community activities in support of PSAC’s negotiations.

Adopted by the National Executive Board of the
National Union of Public and General Employees
September 13, 2004 (NUPGE)