Last month PSAC received notice to bargain from Treasury Board – the parties are discussing potential timetables for bargaining.

The new FB bargaining team met last month in Ottawa to begin preparations for negotiations. The following are some of the key issues that we plan on raising in bargaining:

Key Issues

• Discipline – CBSA management has been out of control recently in terms of discipline, including investigations associated with professional standards.  Our union will continue to defend members against CBSA across the country in the context of unreasonable discipline, but new protections are needed.

• Retirement – Our team will be seeking a commitment from Treasury Board and CBSA to support an early retirement regime comparable to other law enforcement agencies.

• Arming – Enhance protections for officers, particularly given CBSA’s recent communications concerning arming.

• Compensation – Compensation that reflects broader law enforcement community. CBSA is a law enforcement agency and CBSA employees should be recognized accordingly.

• Shift work – Expanded rights for shift workers.

• Telework – Access to Telework arrangements.

• Leave – Leave for medical appointments and other related matters.

• Sick leave – The government has indicated that it wants to negotiate concessions to our sick leave and potentially other provisions in this round of bargaining. PSAC National President Robyn Benson, CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin and our FB bargaining team have made it clear: we will fight to defend our collective agreement rights, including sick leave provisions.

We’ll be sure to provide update as things progress.