19 January 2012
Negotiations for a new collective agreement reached an impasse on January 17, 2012 after the employer represented by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) rejected PAFSO’s wage proposal calling for a 2.5% increase in each year of a 3 year collective agreement and additional increments to address the wage anomalies at the FS-01, FS-02 and FS 04 levels. The TBS reiterated its initial and final position on wage increases for a 3 year deal which included a 1.75% increase in the first year, 1.5% in the second and 2% in the third, all conditional upon PAFSO accepting the severance pay concessions negotiated with the PSAC. The TBS said there was no reason to address the pay anomalies described by PAFSO. It also noted that any additional monies to address wage structures would have to come from the Departments.
Our initial reaction to the employer’s response is one of shock and dismay. We are being told there will be no table settlement without an agreement on the severance pay concession and if we agree on the severance pay concession the TBS still has no intention to address the large wage gaps between the FS- 02 and CO-02 rates of pay or any of the other wage anomalies.
PAFSO will be applying to the Chair of the Public Service Labour Relations Board asking him to appoint a Public Interest Commission to assist the parties in resolving this dispute or to make recommendations that could lead to a settlement. Little or no progress was made on any of the other issues submitted by PAFSO.