Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

source: The Vancouver Sun

OTTAWA — Such fast-food outlets as Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza and Subway are quietly popping up on military bases across the country in sole-source deals that “hand them a captive market,” says the Union of National Defence Employees.

It wants to challenge the legality of replacing base restaurants, canteens and cafeterias operated by the Canadian Forces Exchange System — known as CANEX — with food outlets and franchises without seeking bids from other suppliers.

“What bothers us is these private sector companies are selling on Crown property to provide services to a captive market, the military troops and their families, without being publicly tendered. It raises the question of how many small businesses would love to put in a bid for such a captive market,” said UNDE President John MacLennan who intends to ask Auditor-General Sheila Fraser investigate.

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OTTAWA - IMP Group Limited, which is charged with maintaining and repairing Canadian search and rescue helicopters, refuses to address some important labour issues with its employees, according to the union representing the employees, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

“Our members perform work that is of great importance to the safety and security of many Canadians,” said PSAC National President John Gordon. “IMP management should do everything they can to resolve the labour problems within the company and to develop harmonious work relations with the employees.”

For Gordon, the time has come for IMP management to learn how to deal fairly with its unionized workforce. “Many Canadian companies deal with unions representing their employees,” he said, “and in doing so they are able to ensure labour peace in their workplaces. IMP should do the same.”

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The Public Service Labour Relations Board ruled on July 7, 2006 that a firefighter fitness test adopted and implemented by the Department of National Defence is discriminatory on the basis of age and sex.

The Board’s adjucator also directed the employer “to immediately cease using the eight minute standard as a condition of employment for DND firefighters”.

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Gary was an honourable and courageous member of the PSAC team, he fought the fight for his members and our Union, his legacy will live on for the Firefighters of DND, as all those allowances were achieved while he was the member of the Table 2 Bargaining team. For those of us that worked with Gary, he will be long remembered and he will remain an inspiration to all Trade Unionists that knew of him.

-Garry Fraser, UNDE 21013

Mass will held at 12 noon on Friday March 24th at St. Patrick’s RC Church, 2060 Haultain in Victoria.

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