Be prepared. It’s the Boy Scout’s motto and a lesson that Parks Canada’s representatives still need to learn. As we head into the next round of bargaining, from March 12 to the 14, we hope Parks Canada will be better prepared to have meaningful discussions.

Negotiations with the employer got off to a rocky start in February when Parks Canada representatives came to the table with little to no language to discuss. Our bargaining team has tabled a comprehensive package that includes important issues facing our members such as:

• fair wages and compensation
• leave improvements
• work life balance
• protections in the workplace
• domestic violence leave
• job security
• protections against contracting out
• joining the National Joint Council

The employer’s package lacked substance and was void of the language needed to negotiate improvements to working conditions for nearly 4,000 Parks Canada employees across Canada.

This will be the second set of meetings in negotiations to get Parks Canada members a new collective agreement. The previous contract expired August 4, 2018.