Labour Day is upon us, and we thought we would highlight some of the worst (and best) of what our members experience when it comes to recognition by the employer by announcing the winners of our “National Public Service Week: Worst (or Best) Gift” Contest from earlier this summer — all in good fun!
1- Worst gift
Talk about perfect timing. Here comes the worst of the worst. On June 15, 2026, Federal Bridge Corp Ltd (FBCL) terminated ten custodians at the Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia after they had completed their work for the day. All were taken off site and completely blindsided while not even afforded the opportunity to retrieve their belongings. These members were represented by PSAC DCL 501 and worked for years alongside members of CIU Local 19. A day later, new contracted cleaners entered the CBSA workplaces to begin the same work BUT without security clearances. CBSA management condoned it because they were in the presence of FBCL managers. Despite that, many security incident reports were filed. Signs were also placed in the work area supporting our fellow Union members who were illegally fired. CBSA and FBCL found the signs inappropriate and removed them while also chastising CIU Local 19 leadership. This is absolutely the worst NPSW gift and TAKES / REPLACES THE CAKE this year!!
2- Worst gift
2026 at Edmonton Airport: Potluck so we can use our hard earned money and time off to buy and prepare food to celebrate with and feed our colleagues and management team. Also proposed was a blood drive because our sweat and tears aren’t enough…
3- Worst gift
A deadly gift…. Currently grieving my return to office under DTA for my deadly peanut/nut allergy after several instances of peanuts/nuts being brought into the workplace and the lack of any part of my job that requires me to be in office (none of my team lives/works in my area). My manager is insisting that the “peanut free” signs and emails are enough to keep the workplace safe. For NPSW local management brought in peanut covered drumsticks (ice cream) for the staff who work in the “peanut free” workspace and opened the boxes right beside the peanut-free signs. I’m glad I stayed home that day or it would have come with a bonus funeral.
4- Worst gift
One year they gave us a postcard with a picture of all our chiefs and our director. What an awesome souvenir to hang on your fridge and see their sweet little faces eve day…
5- Worst gift
Photocopied crossword searches for us to do on breaks. The union did provide a cake to say thank you.
6- Worst gift
A hotdog and a dried out hot dog bun that costs less than a dollar, like the kind Costco sells, but cheaper with a rubber texture and you have to bring your own soft drink and condiments.
7- Best gift (see, it’s not all bad)
Ice cream funnel cake truck.
8- Best gift
So I am going to submit something different, and discuss the best gift for NPSW (as any employee has their numerous stories of abysmal gifts, or just no gifts at all). My operations was Emerson Commercial. One Superintendent, with actual contributions from the chief and director, put on a sundae bar. They even had their spouse make homemade sauces, complete with every sundae topping you want. Sorbet and sherbet were also provided for staff who were vegan or lactose intolerant. It was an ultimate throw back to the days of the Sundae bar at Pizza Hut (for members who can remember lol). With my 16 years with CBSA, that was the most genuine effort I have had a management team try to show their appreciation. I also do want to emphasize that this Superintendent had backing and financial contributions from the Commercial chief, and even the Director during this time in June 2022. This is one reason why I remember it so well, just once in 16 years did I witness and experience that level of engagement, that I doubt I will ever see again. An honorable mention for the worst I had was June 2012, which involved a Superintendent picking up a couple dozen of donuts a few days before NPSW started, forgetting them in their vehicle, and still giving the donuts to the operations… donuts that sat in a vehicle for two days, in June. So years like that make June 2022 so epic.
Thank you to all who participated, and congratulations to the winners, who will receive a $100 gift card for the CIU online boutique!
