Author Archives: Jayson Roy

Workers at Canada Border Services Agency ratify tentative agreement for more than 9,000 workers

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) members working at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying their tentative agreement, with 91% of ballots cast in favour of the new contract. A nationwide ratification vote took place June 20 through July 4.

Over 9,000 workers at the CBSA won a wage increase that exceeds recent increases to other Canadian law enforcement agencies, enhanced protections relative to technological changes, and better provisions for shift scheduling and leave.

The four-year collective agreement expires on June 20, 2026.

Highlights of the agreement

“Today, we celebrate our members who showed unwavering commitment and solidarity to reach the best possible contract for workers,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “This is a well-deserved victory for our members at CBSA who safeguard our nation’s borders and ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”

“I’m proud of the solidarity our members have shown over that past two years of negotiations,” said Mark Weber, CIU National President. “We would not have achieved this agreement without the strength and support shown by thousands of members across the country who took action to support our bargaining team.”

Next Steps

In the coming weeks, PSAC will meet with Treasury Board and CBSA representatives to sign the new contract. All non-monetary terms of the collective agreement will come into effect immediately after signing.

Treasury Board and CBSA have 180 days from the date of signing the new collective agreement to raise the pay according to the new rates and provide retroactive pay for the time elapsed since the expiry of the previous contract.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Navigating the Phoenix adjudication process under the 2020 damages agreement

Starting June 24, a new adjudication process is available for both current and former Treasury Board employees affected by the 2020 Phoenix pay system damages agreement. This process was negotiated by PSAC and is designed to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently if your claim for severe impacts has been denied.

There are two main pathways to handle disputes:

Accelerated adjudication: This faster process allows for a decision within 40 working days. Both parties must agree on a statement of facts before moving ahead with accelerated adjudication, which is administered by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB). The entire process has been outlined in the FPSLREB’s procedural guide.
Formal adjudication: This longer hearing process is designed for complex cases where facts are disputed or more evidence is needed. It involves gathering evidence and testimonies, and a decision can take several months. Grievances that proceed to formal adjudication follow the FPSLREB’s usual adjudication procedures.

If your claim is approved, fully or partially, you will receive a decision letter with a release form that you must sign and return within 90 days to receive your payment. Employees can contact the Phoenix Claims Office with any questions about the decision letter.

Disagreeing with a decision

If you disagree with the decision on your claim, contact PSAC (choose “Phoenix – Appeal a severe impact claim” from the dropdown menu) to explore your options. We can guide you on the next steps and can refer your claim to the FPSLREB, depending on the specifics of your case. Under the Phoenix pay system damages agreement, only PSAC can refer a claim to adjudication before the FPSLREB.

For members covered under the 2019 Phoenix pay system damages agreement, a similar process is already available.

Push for ongoing Phoenix damages

PSAC also continues to call on Treasury Board to begin negotiating an extension of the Phoenix general damages agreements and the severe damages claims process to compensate workers until they are paid properly and on time – every time.

There are currently 424,000 transactions ready to be processed by the Public Service Pay Centre with a growing Phoenix backlog that is leading to frustration and hardship for federal public service workers waiting for their issues to be resolved.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Employment Opportunity: Labour Relations Officer (Permanent position) (Extended)

The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) is seeking to hire a full-time bilingual Labour Relations Officer (Band 11, French imperative) with extensive experience to be staffed on a full-time indeterminate basis.

Applications will be received until close of business on July 19, 2024 (5:00 p.m. EDT). Please see the full posting here (PDF) for more information about the position, the associated duties and requirements, and on how to apply.

FB Ratification votes to be held June 20 to July 4

Ratification votes for PSAC-CIU members working at the Canada Border Services Agency will begin June 20 and end July 4 at 12 p.m. ET.

In order for FB members to receive their new rates of pay, retroactive pay, and lump sum payment, the new agreement must first be ratified. To ensure this ratification process is done as quickly as possible, PSAC will be conducting an online ratification process.

The ratification vote will be conducted using the same online voting platform used for strike votes earlier this year.

Review the ratification kit
View the tentative agreement and ratification vote FAQ

How to vote

PSAC will be holding mandatory virtual information sessions, and you can vote at any time after attending a session up until the voting deadline July 4 at 12 p.m. ET.

Ensure you are a Member in Good Standing. If you are on an extended leave (parental, disability, etc.), you can request to maintain good status while on leave prior to the vote.

Check your email: All FB group members will have received an email from communications@psac-afpc.vote on June 14 with the link to PSAC’s voting platform and the credentials needed to log in. If we only have your home address on file, your voting credentials will have been mailed to you.

If you did not receive an email on June 14, check your junk mail or other folders in your personal email account. If you’ve checked those folders and still don’t have the email, or if we don’t have your personal email on file, you can fill out a PSAC membership form to update your contact information.

Once you submit the online membership form, PSAC will issue your voting credentials to you as soon as possible.

Participate in a mandatory information session: Upon receipt of your login credentials, please proceed to register for voting sessions using the online voting platform link.

Submit your vote: Once you attend a mandatory information session, you will then be provided with a link to vote. Following the information session, you can vote immediately or stay on to participate in a live Q&A session with members of the FB bargaining team.

Vote session dates and times

Register for one of the following mandatory information sessions:

Sessions in English

Thursday, June 20, 7:30 p.m. ET in English
Friday, June 21, 2:00 p.m. ET in English
Sunday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. ET in English
Monday, June 24, 10:00 p.m. ET in English
Tuesday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. ET in English
Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. ET in English
Thursday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. ET in English
Friday, June 28, 10:00 a.m. ET in English
Tuesday, July 2, 5:00 p.m. ET in English
Wednesday, July 3, 10:00 p.m. ET in English

Sessions in French

Friday, June 21, 9:00 a.m. ET in French
Tuesday, June 25 5:00 p.m. ET in French
Wednesday, June 26, 8:00 p.m. ET in French
Friday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. ET in French
Tuesday, July 2, 9:30 a.m. ET in French

Register here

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

FB ratification kit now available: A message from the CIU National President

On June 11, 2024, the PSAC-CIU bargaining team for the FB group secured a tentative agreement for over 9,000 members at CBSA. This agreement represents the culmination of nearly two years of intense work at the bargaining table and brings to our members outstanding gains in several areas, notably on the wage front. The ratification kit is now available, and I invite all our members to see the full details of the tentative agreement.

The dedication of our FB bargaining team to obtaining the best deal for our members leaves the FB group in a markedly stronger position. The resulting tentative agreement is a resounding success for all our members, without whom this victory would not have been possible. Once again, it is through your support and solidarity that our team was able to secure the improvements you all so decidedly deserve.

Over the next few weeks, members will have the opportunity to attend ratification sessions and vote on the agreement. Further details will be announced in the coming days.

The FB bargaining team unanimously recommends ratification of the tentative agreement, and I could not be prouder of adding my voice to this recommendation. This tentative agreement is the latest in a long line of victories, illustrating once more what we as a union can accomplish together.

Thank you and in solidarity,

Mark Weber
CIU National President