Author Archives: Jayson Roy

PSAC honours National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by raising the Survivors’ Flag

On September 24, PSAC leaders, members, and staff—guided by Tina Vincent, Knowledge Keeper from Kitigan Zibi—gathered to raise the Survivors’ Flag, acknowledging and honoring residential school survivors and all the lives and communities impacted by the residential and day school systems in Canada. The flag, representing Indigenous resilience and strength, serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance and advocacy.

“This flag will remain flown at our national headquarters as a symbol of PSAC’s continuous commitment to Indigenous communities and in solidarity with their fight for self-autonomy, reconciliation and justice.” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC national president. “I want to thank PSAC’s National Indigenous People’s circle, and our First Nation, Métis and Inuit activists who have encouraged PSAC to take these important steps towards achieving truth and reconciliation as a union.”

Residential schools were government-sanctioned institutions that forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families, aiming to strip them of their language, culture, and identity. This led to generations of profound trauma that continues to impact Indigenous communities today. The act of raising the Survivors’ Flag is an acknowledgment of this painful history and a symbolic commitment to solidarity with survivors and their families.

By raising the Survivors’ Flag, we not only remind ourselves of the injustices of the past, but also commit to ensuring these injustices are not forgotten. Public awareness and education are key components in addressing the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools. Our union honors the strength of survivors and reinforces the ongoing need for accountability, justice, and a genuine commitment to repairing relationships with Indigenous communities.

Recognizing the deep-rooted trauma and systemic violence that Indigenous communities have faced for generations is a crucial step toward Reconciliation. True Reconciliation requires more than recognizing the past; it involves actively working to heal the ongoing harm caused by colonialism, racism, and the marginalization of Indigenous peoples.

Together, we must take concrete steps toward reconciliation by acknowledging both historical and ongoing injustices and committing to actions that support healing, justice, and the restoration of Indigenous rights and cultures.

Learn more

Find out more about the flag’s imagery and creation and read about the significance of the flag.
Check-out these additional resources to use on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and after to learn, reflect, and consider how you can take meaningful action towards Reconciliation.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

“No training, no consultation on CARM”: CIU National President addresses House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade

On September 25, CIU National President Mark Weber addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) to discuss the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management System (CARM), highlighting several issues, including a severe lack of consultation, glaringly insufficient training, and a complete disregard for both stakeholders and staff affected by the new platform.

Weber’s testimony in front of CIIT followed the submission of a brief by CIU last April on the many problems associated with CARM’s implementation – a brief which one MP referred to as “scathing”. When asked how the union felt today regarding CARM, Weber answered: “Confused and worried would best describe the atmosphere amongst our membership”, pointing to the “very little training” that had been delivered to CBSA personnel regarding the new platform set to be launched on October 21 – despite CARM’s launch having already been delayed.

The lack of consultation and in-house involvement in the development of CARM is also a grave concern. “I really believe this should have been developed in house” said Weber of the platform produced by third-party firm Deloitte, “I think the expertise is there.”

“You need to talk to the people who use it every day,” explained Mark Weber to committee members about CARM. “Those frontline officers have not been consulted at all. It’s again like we saw with ArriveCAN, with other apps and ideas that CBSA has had. The people who use it are not consulted and don’t have any involvement in its development whatsoever.”

“The dog ate my homework”

Weber further touched on CBSA using FB strike votes as an excuse for CARM’s failure to launch in the spring. “I’m trying to be measured in my words, but there are some questions about integrity here.” Referring to the Agency’s lack of accountability, the CIU National President didn’t mince words: “That’s the federal agency equivalent of the dog ate my homework to be honest. Our members were furious when they read that. That had no bearing whatsoever on them launching CARM. They still aren’t ready.”

The union’s overarching message to the committee is clear: CBSA and the federal government must learn from the ArriveCAN and Phoenix debacles and seize this opportunity to change course. “The launch must be delayed once again until the people who are working at the border, who are going to be able to assist […] importers have an idea how to use the system. We cannot replicate what happened with ArriveCAN” concluded Weber.

See selected clips below. A full recording of the Committee proceedings can be viewed here (with interpretation language options).

PSAC renews call for Indigenous languages allowance amid federal inaction in the North

The recently released report by the Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut highlights the continued failure of the federal government to fulfill its legal and moral obligation to provide services in Indigenous languages in Northern Canada.

In Nunavut, as well as the Northwest Territories and Yukon, recognizing and supporting Indigenous languages is essential for reconciliation. These languages are central to Inuit and First Nations identity and culture and are spoken every day in many communities. Some territorial governments already provide services in, and allowances for, Indigenous language speakers. Federal workers shouldn’t be left behind.

Language plays an important role in building relationships and strengthening community bonds. When Indigenous languages are recognized and used by public institutions and in everyday life, they reinforce the social fabric of Indigenous communities and affirm that Indigenous cultures and languages are valued, vital parts of Canada’s cultural heritage.

This recognition contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society, fostering mutual respect and understanding.

Moving forward, it is critical for the federal government to address ongoing shortcomings and fulfill its obligations. PSAC reiterates the call for the federal government to introduce an Indigenous languages bilingual allowance. This measure will help ensure the staffing resources needed to address these shortcomings while at the same time recognizing the importance of Indigenous languages.

A commitment to Indigenous language is not only a moral responsibility under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but also a crucial step toward meaningful reconciliation.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

What the federal government was hiding about their telework mandate

New Access to Information documents show that the federal government’s decision to impose a rigid three-day in-office mandate was not based on data or research on productivity, despite clear evidence that hybrid work boosts performance. The documents reveal the government ignored their own evidence and steamrolled ahead with a plan.

Internal documents show that telework is proven to enhance productivity and improve employee well-being — something PSAC and other unions have long argued. Statistics Canada data also confirms that as hybrid and remote work increased from 2019 to 2023, public service productivity saw a net positive impact. Yet, none of this evidence was factored into the mandate.

“This government once had a vision to build a modern, productive, and inclusive public service, but they’ve thrown it all away for no valid reason,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “They had the research and results supporting a more flexible approach, but decided that butts in seats is more important than productivity. Their failure to follow the evidence on hybrid work is mindboggling.”

In 2022, the government was fully committed to flexible work arrangements, with internal communications highlighting a goal for a “distributed, flexible, talented, inclusive, productive workforce and welcoming workplace.” Yet in a complete 180-degree turn, the new mandate was implemented without any supporting data.

The documents also revealed that the government anticipated strong opposition from both employees and unions, yet they moved forward with the least popular option anyways. Treasury Board officials knew the policy would cause workplace disruptions but gave bargaining agents just one hour’s notice, despite months of planning.

PSAC is calling on the federal government to scrap the mandate, rethink its approach, and follow the evidence, which shows that hybrid work leads to higher productivity, better work-life balance, and healthier workplace cultures. The current mandate not only threatens productivity but undermines the values of fairness and collaboration the government claims to support.

“If the government really wants to be a leader in the future of work, it’s time for them to start making evidence-based decisions that benefit both workers and the Canadian population,” added DeSousa. “Arbitrary mandates and ignoring the data will only set us back.”

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Call for PA, SV, TC, EB bargaining demands

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will soon be approaching the employer to begin negotiations for the renewal of the PA, SV, TC, and EB collective agreements. To ensure bargaining demands reflect issues of importance to the CIU membership, direct input and involvement from our members is essential.

PSAC has prepared an online form to make it easier for members of these bargaining units to propose changes and improvements they would like to see made to their collective agreement. We encourage all members from the PA, SV, TC and EB groups to avail themselves of this tool.

This form will be open for input until November 15, 2024, and is available here: https://psacunion.ca/eform/submit/bargaining-input. Note that members will need a valid PSAC ID to submit the completed form.

Alternatively, members who are unable to complete the form should contact their Branch President, who may submit demands on behalf of their members. Branch Presidents should print and post this memo on all union boards, including the QR code below — members can scan this code with their mobile device to access the input form online.

Drafting effective bargaining demands

PSAC is organizing virtual training sessions on how to draft effective bargaining demands. Each session will include a 30-minute presentation, followed by a Q&A session. All members and union representatives are encouraged to attend by registering here: https://psacunion.ca/register-now-tb-town-halls-learn-how-submit

Thank you and in solidarity.