News Release

January 27, 2005

PSAC members say yes to new contract with Food Inspection Agency  

OTTAWA – Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have ratified their tentative agreement by a vote of 90%.  

“Since the creation of the Agency, wages and benefits for these members haven't kept pace with other federal public sector workers,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. “While we were not able to achieve complete parity in this round, we did negotiate wage adjustments, as well as benefit improvements that will significantly reduce the disparity.”

PSAC CFIA members in the operational categories will see their salaries adjusted from between 5.4% to 9.6%, effective January 1, 2003, in order to reduce the wage gap identified in the joint PSAC/Treasury Board Wage Study. Their pay zones will be reduced from four to three. The salary rates for three administrative groups (AS, IS and PM) will be put on a par with rates paid to similar occupational groups at Treasury Board, retroactive to January 1, 2003, while other members will receive an additional salary increment.

Economic increases negotiated are: 2.5% retroactive to January 1, 2003, 2.25% retroactive to January 1, 2004, 2.4% effective January 1, 2005 and 2.5% as of January 1, 2006.

Two new days of leave were included in the settlement, as well as remuneration for “captive time”. In the new agreement, part-time workers will now be entitled to a salary increment after 12 months.  

The vote was conducted among the bargaining unit's 4,500 members across Canada in December and January. The new agreement will expire on December 31, 2006.  

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For information: Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications

(613) 560-4317 (613) 293-9210 (cell)  

04-270105