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.

Your bargaining team is in a critical round of bargaining for thousands of PSAC members at Parks Canada. Our message to the employer is clear: with the soaring cost of living, urgency for better work-life balance, and the need for more diverse and inclusive workplaces, our members need a fair deal now.

PSAC and the Parks Canada Agency have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) [7] to lift the moratorium on the automatic cash-out of vacation and compensatory leave for Parks Canada members. Parks Canada members will have an opportunity to submit a leave liquidation management plan to liquidate excess leave balances beginning April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2028.

The Parks Canada bargaining team continued to hold the line and push for stronger working conditions during negotiations September 19-22, despite more than 20 concessions on the table from the employer that would severely impact workers.

Following months of hard work and consultation, our Parks Canada team presented a package of proposals that reflects the urgent need for improved working conditions for our members across the country.

In response, the employer tabled a package of demands full of concessions to workers who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic for more than two years.

Passion and commitment were on the agenda at the Parks Canada Agency's National Virtual Bargaining Conference, held from May 31 to June 2.