Bargaining Update #10
July 19, 2019
To all proud CS Members,
Your bargaining team met with the Employer in mediation at the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board on July 16-18, 2019. Having been unable to reach a tentative agreement in previous bargaining sessions, the two parties decided to enlist the help of the mediation service. As always, our main concerns remain the pay disparity with other Federal Public Service IT workers and recruitment and retention issues leading to more and more contracting out.
The 16,000 members of the CS Group have been crystal clear in their direction to the bargaining team — achieve a fair wage increase. The increase must reflect the current IT market and eliminate the gap with our fellow federal IT colleagues. Over the last four years, CS Group members have been paid $5,000 less (on average) than others. If wage parity is not achieved, then this wage discrepancy will only continue to grow.
The bargaining team remains extremely frustrated with the Employer’s inability to recognize the pay disparity and their disrespect towards CS members. The team therefore flatly refused to accept an offer that is far below members’ expectations. It is disappointing that the Employer continues to deny the plain facts and fails to propose any solutions to the recruitment and retention issues facing so many federal departments.
No future bargaining or mediation meetings have been scheduled and none are expected until after the federal election later in the fall. However, there will be more CS Group events planned. Further information will be sent shortly to explain the next steps.
Thank you to all those who proudly showed their solidarity and their colours on the July 16 CS Solidarity Walk. You have shown great innovation and demonstrated tremendous group spirit in support of your negotiations.
Please check out our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/IPFPC.PIPSC.Groupe.CS.Group/) and subscribe to the CS group’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClwhxFfu06vPvVwaDWdT30A?view_as=subscriber )for a more updates.
If you have any questions about this process, please email Questions_CS@PIPSC.CA.
In solidarity,
Robert Tellier
CS Group Bargaining Officer