The need to protect Canada’s national parks and heritage institutions was top of mind over the weekend, as PSAC members working for Parks Canada gathered in Ottawa. The need to protect Canada’s national parks and heritage institutions was top of mind over the weekend, as PSAC members working for Parks Canada gathered in Ottawa. The workers met to plan strategy and discuss pressing issues, as they began preparing for the upcoming round of collective bargaining with their employer.
They did so in the midst of a challenging political climate, after the Conservative government recently cut thousands of jobs across the public service.
“Our principles and values are being directly targeted. Collective bargaining, the fight for equality, the advancement of living standards are all under fire,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President, in her address to delegates. “The government continues to cut, gut and freeze the public service, dismantling public treasures like our parks and canals.”
Cuts compromise services
Conference participants reinforced Benson’s assertions, outlining the ways that government attacks on job security, union rights and sick leave degrade the quality of services that they provide in Canada’s national parks, locks and water ways.
Daniel Toutant agrees. He’s an Asset Support Technician at the Forges-du-Saint-Maurice historical site in Quebec and the president of his union local. He says that when he first started working for Parks Canada in 2002, the agency spoke in glowing terms about the need to preserve and promote national historic sites.
“People love what we do – when I tell them I work for Parks Canada, I always get a big smile,” he said. But Toutant says that the recent federal government cuts have meant the elimination of park guides and a shortening of the season for visitors.
Dangerous work
Conference participants were particularly concerned about the current attacks on public sector sick leave and safety regulations, noting that their jobs are often dangerous and involve protecting the public.
Loretta Moar has worked in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba for 17 years, doing everything from taking tickets, to removing trees, swinging chainsaws, maintaining trails and cleaning bathrooms.
“I work outside every single day,” she said. “I’ve been chased by moose, I’ve been chased by a bear. You’ve got to be constantly aware of your surroundings and what you’re doing.”
Given that her job includes dealing with harsh physical conditions and risks, Moar emphasized the need to protect sick leave. She also aimed her criticism at the Conservative government and urged PSAC members to get involved during the next election, so “hopefully after the next election we will not have a majority government that is going to take away all of our public services.”
Impacting communities
Jack Norris pointed out the ways that PSAC members’ work impacts local communities.
He's been a lockmaster on the Rideau Canal in Smiths Falls, Ontario since 1976. He was a full-time employee until 2012, when his hours were reduced by more than 30 per cent. Norris says that with less people to open and close the locks, boats can wait for more than two hours to pass and many are choosing different routes.
“Businesses and communities lose out when there are less boats coming through the area,” said Norris. “Smiths Falls in particular lost 2,700 jobs over a two year period. Tourism is one of the big draws, getting people into the town to spend money.”
Norris agreed that by protecting our members’ job security, PSAC is also ensuring the stability and quality of the services that Parks Canada provides.
Unions united
In an address to delegates, CUPE President Paul Moist emphasized the way that public sector unions are working together to support each other and stand up to bullying by the Conservative government. CUPE is the largest union in Canada and represents provincial, municipal and school board employees all across the country.
Moist said that Tony Clement is “spreading lies” about public sector sick leave and that CUPE was willing to lend its research and support to Parks Canada members as they fought to preserve this important benefit.
“If Tony Clement thinks he is going to break the PSAC, he is wrong. He would not just be taking on PSAC – CUPE will support you with our research, our picket signs and our solidarity.”
Conference members ended the weekend by electing members to their bargaining team and brainstorming ways to mobilize members to support the negotiation process.
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