PS angry to learn Family Day is just a work day
February holiday doesn't apply to federal employees
Jessey Bird
The Ottawa Citizen
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A major union representing thousands of federal workers in Ottawa has been swamped by phone calls from members demanding to know why they won't be enjoying Ontario's recently announced Family Day holiday in February.
Ed Cashman, regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), said calls began once re-elected Premier Dalton McGuinty confirmed his election promise of a new provincial statutory holiday.
"We're getting hundreds of phone calls in our office saying: 'hey, how come everybody else gets this and we don't'?" said Mr. Cashman.
"But people need to know that what the premier said doesn't necessarily apply to everyone in this province equally."
The holiday is scheduled to be celebrated on the third Monday of February, beginning on Feb. 18, 2008.
Mr. McGuinty announced the holiday as an opportunity for families to spend more quality time together.
"I can think of no better way for the government to get to work than to give the families a little more of what they value above all else -- time together," the premier said at a news conference last week.
But Mr. Cashman said many families in Ottawa will not be granted this time.
"If you work for the public service, you're not going to get the day off," he said.
"Ironically, the Family Day is not going to reunite families because one member of the couple might be having the day off and the other will not."
But a primary public service employer said Mr. Cashman's revelation is not news.
"We've been very clear about that ever since this was first announced," said Robert Makichuk, chief of media relations for the Treasury Board, which employs about 75,000 public servants in Ottawa.
"Federally, there are 11 designated paid holidays and despite the addition of a day off in February, our collective agreements do not provide for an additional day off," said Mr. Makichuk.
A spokesman from the provincial Ministry of Labour said federal employees are not under Mr. McGuinty's control.
"Since federal employees fall under federal jurisdiction, their public holidays are determined by the Canada Labour Code," said Bruce Skeaff. "Family Day is being introduced through the Ontario Employment Standards Act."
Mr. Cashman said he wants Family Day to "be inclusive and extend to as many workers as possible and not just be limited to workers of the Employment Standards Act."
"We would want Mr. McGuinty to reflect on the true intent of a family holiday and if he could exert any pressure on Prime Minister Harper, that would be a really great thing," said Mr. Cashman. "The people that are going to suffer the most are the people from Ottawa."
A spokesperson for Mr. McGuinty had no comment.
