The Parks Canada bargaining team had more than 5,000 members across the country top of mind when they made the tough decision to declare an impasse late last week. This decision follows nearly a year of bargaining with the employer, who has come to the table with no mandate to bargain, no monetary proposal, and no serious engagement on important issues our team has at the table. While the Parks Canada continues to stall, we continue to fight for a fair contract.

Parks Canada workers are tired of waiting

We have key issues on the table to improve the day-to-day lives and working conditions of Parks members, but the only response we’ve received from the employer has been about grammar and acronyms in the collective agreement. The employer gave no response to our team’s monetary package that would raise the bar for Parks workers from forestry technicians and park wardens to workers in physical sciences and architecture and general labourers. Parks Canada members deserve better.  

Declaring impasse means our bargaining decided that we’ve gone as far as we can in the bargaining process with no resolution in sight. We have been working hard to secure a deal, but without a counter-proposal on the table from the employer, we are forced to take action.  

We expect the employer to take our proposals seriously and engage in meaningful negotiations.

• Read more about how bargaining works with the Parks Canada Agency

Our team is looking for a fair contract that provides wage increases that keep up with inflation as members try to balance household budgets and recognizes workers never stopped coming into the workplace throughout the pandemic. Parks members in term and seasonal contracts have been hit especially hard. 
 
What’s next? 

Already, tens of thousands of PSAC members have registered for strike votes that will start this month for federal public service workers. We know that our union’s real power lies with workers, including Parks Canada members.  
 
Our Parks Canada bargaining team will be ramping up plans to mobilize members for upcoming actions and events in the months ahead. 

We will keep you updated when we have more information from the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment about our declaration of impasse.  

Stay involved  

• Make sure you receive all the latest news about bargaining with the Parks Canada Agency by keeping your contact information up to date 
• Have you filled out our mobilization survey? Tell how you want to help reach a fair contract for members across the country