PSAC Pay Equity

May 6, 2002

PSAC complaint charges Treasury Board
and separate employers with wage discrimination

The PSAC has filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) alleging that Treasury Board is discriminating against employees of various separate employers by not extending pay equity adjustments to them, contrary to sections 7 and 10 of the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA). The union also alleges that differences in wages between employees performing predominantly female work and employees performing predominantly male work of equal value working for separate employers is also contrary to section 11 of the CHRA. The complaint indicates that if Treasury Board is not found to be the employer in this case, then the allegations of discrimination apply to each of the separate employers listed in the complaint.

In order to protect the full retroactive period, the union had approached the CHRC about filing such a complaint within a year of the Consent Order being issued by the Human Rights Tribunal. This Order settled the PSAC’s long-standing complaint against Treasury Board on behalf of six female-dominated groups. The complaint naming Treasury Board and the separate employers was filed on January 9, 2002 after more than a year of discussions with the Commission.

PSAC has already filed a Statement of Claim in the Federal Court asking that pay equity be applied to seven separate employers under Part II of the Public Service Staff Relations Act (PSSRA). These employers are also included in the complaint, together with 20 other employers under the Canada Labour Code. The complaint will be held in abeyance pending the resolution of the Statement of Claim.

The complaint applies to the following separate employers under the Canada Labour Code:

Nav Canada, Canadian Saltfish Corporation, Vancouver International Airport Authority, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, North Peace Airport Services, Kamloops Airport Ltd., the Sydney Airport Authority, Calgary Airport Authority, the City of Timmins, Prince Rupert Airport Society, the Sault Ste Marie Airport Development Corporation, Saint John Airport Inc., North Bay Airport, Whitehorse General Hospital, Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin, National Museum of Science and Technology, Canadian Museum of Nature, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Serco Facilities Management and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

The seven employers under Part II of the PSSRA included in the complaint and the Statement of Claim are the Auditor General, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Communications Security Establishment, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Statistical Survey Operations and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (formerly the Medical Research Council).