Non-Public Funds workers picket outside Ottawa health conference

On their 45th day of striking, a group of Non-Public Funds workers picketed at a National Defence building and outside an Ottawa health conference run by their employer, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services.

The strike is impacting almost 500 NPF workers in Bagotville, Kingston, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Ottawa, Petawawa and Valcartier.

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About 100 people from the striking locals were in Ottawa on Wednesday, some gathering by a National Defence building entrances on Coventry Road and others at the Courtyard by Marriott on Vanier Parkway, where a conference was held by the Health Promotion division of CFMWS.

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As usual, pickets waved flags and blew horns, though some also performed a choreographed dance to Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” as cars drove by.

“Hopefully we’re making enough noise that their meeting isn’t going very well,” said Robin Delve, president of Local 00681 with the Union of National Defence Employees in Kingston.

Members first started picketing on Jan. 15.

“It’s been a long time,” said Julie Laska, picket captain and president of Local 70682 of UNDE. “We’re standing strong We’re fighting for what we think that is fair.”

CFMWS is a separate agency, with NPF workers supporting Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans and their families by delivering morale and various welfare services, such as financial planning and recreation.

As staff are not National Defence or Treasury Board employees, having been excluded from the Public Service Employment Act under Order 1982, they have their own pension and pay system and collective agreements.

The lowest-paid workers in the public service, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, members are fighting for better wages, job security and a national pay grid.

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“Our fitness instructors in Valcartier make 40 per cent less than the fitness instructors in Kingston,” said Delve, who has worked for NPF for 22 years. “We want a national pay grid: equal work for equal pay.”

Without a contract since 2022, members are also looking for retroactive pay for all current and former employees, as for now it’s only offered to those who are working at the time a new deal is ratified.

Away from the bargaining table, they’re are also calling to be instated in the Public Service Employment Act.

Negotiations took place last week with the help from a mediator, though the union walked away, stating in a Friday news release that the employer “once again refused to budge” on wage issues.

“The employer didn’t bring any money to the table. Their offer was still the same,” Laska said. “It’s not enough because we’re so underpaid.”

UNDE’s national vice-president for NPF, Cathy O’Kane, said the agency offered members raises of 12 per cent over three years, or less than the Public Interest Commission’s recommendation of 13.75 per cent.

“We want at least what the PIC report said,” O’Kane said, adding that, on the management side, employees receive raises in line with the cost of living: 6.8. per cent last year and around 3.9. per cent this year.

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Ian Poulter, the CEO of CFMWS, said in an email that the agency was “extremely disappointed” that talks broke down.

“PSAC-UNDE has walked from the table for a second time since January,” Poulter said. “Despite our consistent offer of a 12 (per cent) increase over three years, which is in line with what we have negotiated with eight other bargaining units in the last six months, PSAC-UNDE was unwilling to accept what we offered.”

Poulter said CFMWS would remain at the negotiating table and “actively committed to ratifying a satisfactory agreement as quickly as possible.”

“We have reiterated repeatedly that there are no additional funds for wage increases beyond what has been offered, and that what has been offered is in line with our other bargaining units,” Poulter said.

O’Kane and Delve raised concern about actions taken by CFMWS during the strike, noting members had their benefits axed, the employer had hired replacement workers in some locations, negotiation dates for other locals had been cancelled and the agency had negotiated a “me-too” clause with another union representing members working for CFMWS in Halifax so that any negotiated raises would be matched.

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“This now is a power struggle. I think it’s (about) who’s gonna last,” O’Kane said. “I think these people will outlast them because they have nothing else to lose.”

CFMWS said the benefits had been suspended when the strike began, “as per normal practice during a strike. Their benefits are provided by the union during this time. We have no further comments beyond what we have provided (Wednesday).”

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