News
September 13, 2013 - PAFSO urges the Treasury to return to the negotiating table after the decision confirming its bad faith
In the wake of today's decision by the Commission of the Labour Relations Board (PSLRB), confirming that the Canadian government has failed in its obligation to negotiate in good faith in its relations with the Association of Professional Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) PAFSO urges the Treasury to change course and return to the negotiating table to resolve the dispute.
"Canadians expect the federal government to negotiate with respect and in good faith with its own employees," said Tim Edwards, president of PAFSO. "Today's decision shows that it is time that the Prime Minister and the government act responsibly to reach a negotiated settlement that would end this damaging strike. "
In its decision, the Commissioner of PSLRB said that the President of the Treasury Board Tony Clement has acted in bad faith in negotiating when, in response to the offer of binding arbitration PAFSO it sought to impose preconditions to arbitration, knowing that PAFSO could not accept, because they have predetermined the outcome of the arbitration in favor of the government.
"The severe impact of the strike on the Canadian economy could have been avoided if the government had acted in good faith and pledged to negotiate freely and fairly from the start," said Mr. Edwards. "It is now one of the longest strikes in the history of the civil service, and the potential economic losses approaching a billion dollars, we believe that Canada has already suffered enough. The time has come for the government to change course. "
In recent weeks, the Treasury has entered into agreements with two other unions in the public service by providing wage increases that equal or exceed those required by PAFSO. These two examples show that the government is more than capable of filling the wage gap between diplomats and other government professionals, deviations of up to $ 14,000.
"We were hoping to receive the same treatment that was given to other unions to the negotiating table. That being said, our offer to go to binding arbitration without paralyzing prerequisite still stands, "said Mr. Edwards.
