News release

December 15, 2005

PSAC members ratify new agreements with Statistical Survey Operations

OTTAWA – Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members employed as interviewers with Statistical Survey Operations (SSO) have ratified their new three-year tentative agreements. The interviewers are in two bargaining units with one group working out of SSO’s regional offices, the others working in the field, conducting interviews in respondents’ homes and workplaces.

“Bargaining for the interviewers presents different challenges, particularly for the Field Interviewers group who do not work in a regular office setting,” says PSAC National Executive Vice-President John Gordon.

For the Field Interviewers, there is a new “downtime” article. If the employer’s computer equipment or network fails and employees lose work, they will now be paid for the number of cases that are reassigned to someone else.

“Personal safety is also a consideration for the interviewers working out of their homes,” says Gordon. “SSO has now agreed to provide Field Interviewers with a personal voice mail-box with a private password, accessible by a 1-800 number. This system will ensure that any communication with clients can’t be traced to an employee’s residence.”

“New language has been negotiated in the Regional Office Interviewers’ agreement that gives them concrete rights and safeguards in the event of lay-off,” according to Heather Brooker, National President of PSAC’ National Component. “Another new clause will protect employees’ unused sick leave in the event that they are laid-off and re-appointed within one year of the layoff.”

Field Interviewers receive pay in lieu of benefits and that percentage has been raised from 3.5% to 4.0% of all straight-time hours worked. This payment will continue, even if an employee’s average work week drops below 12.5 hours.

The new agreements include wage increases for both units of 2.25% retroactive to December 1, 2004; 2.4% retroactive to December 1, 2005 and 2.5% effective December 1, 2006. Both agreements expire on November 30, 2007.

The Field Interviewers ratified their agreement by 90% and the Regional Office Interviewers ratified theirs by 75%.

The approximately 1,000 interviewers collect data for Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index and monthly Labour Force Survey, among many others.

- 30 -

For information:

Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications
(613) 560-4287 or (613) 558-4975 (cell)

Heather Brooker, National President, National Component
(613) 560-4301 or (613) 850-1422 (cell)

50-151205