Canadian Coast Guard Seasonal Ships Crews' Pensions Significantly Reduced

OTTAWA, Sept. 7 /CNW/ - The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) National President Christine Collins is outraged that a group of approximately 134 seasonal workers across the country have been advised by the government that their years of pensionable service had been reduced significantly. 

"These workers have been receiving pension statements throughout their careers testifying to the level of service recognition they would receive upon retirement.  All of a sudden, the government has clawed back their entitlement, some of them by as much as five years," stated Collins.  "Many members are now facing massive recalculations at the end of their careers and this is simply not acceptable."

Attempts by our Union to extract specific explanation for these claw backs have been unsuccessful.  Various reasons were advanced by the employer but the Union is not satisfied with the answers. 

"The central issue for these workers is that the superannuation system is based on a calendar year while these employees work long hours over compressed periods.  This results in seasonal employees often putting in a full year's work over 8 or 9 months rather than the standard 12 months of a calendar year, explained Collins.

The Union strongly feels that the government bears responsibility for this loss due to the fact that it retained employees by misleading them.  Union representatives are working on a solution to this issue with various stakeholders and politicians.

The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) is a Component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).  UCTE represents over 8 000 members working at Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canadian Coast Guard), airports, private employers, NAV Canada and the Parks Canada Agency.

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