Media Advisory: Public Sector Workers Join Together for a Rally During National Public Service Week (St. John's, NL)

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION                            June 19, 2015 

PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS JOIN TOGETHER FOR A RALLY DURING NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK

ST. JOHN’S, NL – Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) along with other Unions will be participating in a union rally to demonstrate their solidarity in defeating the Conservative government in the upcoming federal election.

“Unions have been attacked left right and center by the Harper government. With their most recent Bill, C-59, the Budget Implementation Act, they are taking away fundamental right of federal public service employees to exercise our Charter rights by engaging in fair collective bargaining.” said Jeannie Baldwin, Regional Executive Vice-President of PSAC Atlantic.

Ryan Cleary, MP for St. John’s South - Mount Pearl and Jack Harris, MP for St. John’s East will both peak at the event.

DATE: Friday, June 19, 2015

TIME: 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM

PLACE: 40 Mews Place, St. John’s, NL

Background facts:

•    National Public Service Week (NPSW) was created in 1992 “to recognize the value of the services rendered by federal public service employees, [and to] acknowledge the contribution of federal public service employees to the federal administration.”

•    Bill C-59, the Budget Implementation Act that was tabled on May 7, 2015 authorizes Treasury Board to modify collective agreements to remove sick leave and impose a short and long term disability plan outside of collective agreements.  The Bill will circumvent the Public Service Labour Relations Act as well as ongoing negotiations.

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Contact: 

Sébastien Bezeau, Regional Political Communications Officer, PSAC, (cell) 902.266.8589 bezeaus@psac-afpc.com