(Montreal) The union representing 4,100 workers at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency declares an impasse in its negotiations and asks for conciliation.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents them, as well as the Agency, confirmed the information on Monday.
These 4,100 workers are responsible for inspecting meat, poultry and fresh produce, in addition to ensuring compliance with the programs and rules provided for in federal laws. They also take care of the maintenance of equipment and buildings and do administrative work.
The finding of an impasse and the union’s request for conciliation come after negotiation sessions since the summer of 2022 and a new session, from February 28 to March 2.
It was during this last session that the PSAC reached an impasse. She also claims that the Agency demands concessions from the employees.
“After the employer ignored key staff demands for months – telecommuting, time to get ready and washed, job security and fairness – this inadequate offer was the straw that broke the camel’s back. . As if that were not enough, the employer tried to wring important concessions from them, by proposing to ax their gains, whether in terms of working hours or call-out pay, availability and back to work”, denounced the PSAC in a communication to its members.
“The union team has made it clear to him that they will not accept any concessions,” warned the alliance.
Salary increases and telecommuting are also in dispute. Telework is also at the center of the PSAC’s demands with the Treasury Board and other federal agencies or organizations.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirms that it “will now use the conciliation process in accordance with the Federal Public Sector Labor Relations Act”, since the union has requested it.
However, she says she is “of the opinion that the parties have not yet sufficiently negotiated and made all reasonable efforts to conclude a renewed collective agreement and that it is premature to declare an impasse”.
The Agency says it is “ready to get back to the table as soon as possible” with the Public Service Alliance of Canada with the aim of concluding a contract that is “fair and reasonable for employees, the employer and Canadians and Canadians”.
“The Agency understands how important it is to finalize these agreements diligently and urgently for a multitude of reasons, including primarily our responsibility to our employees who are proud to belong to an organization like ours and who seek to have certainty about the way forward,” she concluded.