Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

Media advisory: Workers at CBSA and allies rally, call on government to fulfill commitment to equitable retirement

Ottawa, September 21, 2023 – Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union are rallying to call on Treasury Board and the government to live up to their commitment to provide CBSA law enforcement officers equitable retirement benefits.

Date: Thursday September 21, 2023
Time: Rally starting at 12:30 p.m.
Location: Treasury Board of Canada, 90 Elgin Street, Ottawa

CBSA law enforcement officers work in demanding and physically challenging roles, and face similar physical demands and risks as their counterparts in other law enforcement agencies across the country. However, they do not receive equivalent retirement benefits. Instead, many older employees are forced to accept limited duties and opportunities for advancement as they near retirement, as firearms and use of force certification become more difficult as workers age.

Recognizing this, the government has committed to making legislative amendments to provide “25 and out” early retirement benefits, but this has yet to be done. This would allow officers to retire with dignity after 25 years of service.

“With very few exceptions, almost all law enforcement and public safety workers – both provincially and municipally – receive 25 and out retirement benefits. This includes firefighters, air traffic controllers, RCMP constables, operational employees of the Correctional Service of Canada, and more,” said Mark Weber, CIU National President. “It’s time for this government and Treasury Board to step up to the plate and show that they understand and support workers at CBSA.”

Speakers include:

Mark Weber, National President, Customs and Immigration Union
Chris Aylward, National President, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Brea Baresinkoff, FB group bargaining team member

More than 10,000 PSAC-CIU members working at CBSA are currently in negotiations with the federal government, where equitable retirement benefits, job security, telework, and fair wages that keep up with the cost of living are key issues at the bargaining table.

Information and interviews:
PSAC Media Relations
media@psac-afpc.com
613.714.6610

CIU’s 20th National Convention starts tomorrow

The 2023 CIU National Convention starts tomorrow in Ottawa, ON!

During the Convention, follow us and interact online – our offical hashtag is #ciusdi2023:

www.ciu-sdi.ca
Facebook: @ciu.sdi
Flickr album (updated daily)

About the Convention

The National Convention is held once every three years and provides an opportunity for all CIU members to become involved in the operation and future of their Union. For more information, see the main Convention page.

September 20 protests against 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive school policies

This Wednesday, September 20, far-right, conservative and anti-trans groups are organizing protests against teaching 2SLGBTQIA+ content in schools. These protests are being organized under the hashtag #1MillionMarch4Children.

The protests also support recent legislation passed in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick which demand that teachers advise parents if their children request to be called by a different name or pronoun. While these groups claim to be in support of ‘parental rights’, the protests are actually anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate rallies which aim to eliminate Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum and policies from Canadian schools

Politicians across Canada and the Conservative party in particular, continue to threaten the human rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people by failing to support 2SLGBTQIA+ positive legislation. Sadly, these politicians are actively enabling these anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protests to occur in 80 locations across Canada, with large events planned in major cities. PSAC strongly condemns any and all bigotry and violence that threatens the fundamental human rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people

September 20 will be a challenging and scary day for 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples and their communities. PSAC joins in solidarity with you.

PSAC urges all members and allies to:

Join union members, leaders, and allies at one of the many grassroots counter-protests being organized in communities where protests are scheduled to be held. Check with your Federation of Labour or nearest Canadian Labour Congress District Labour Council for more information.
If you wish to be involved in efforts to counter any potential changes in government policy in Ontario, add your organization to Momentum Canada’s list of allies and participate.
Join the rally against anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate in Ottawa.
Refer to the Pride Defence Guide for safety tips and ideas.
Amplify and support local, provincial and national allies who are leading the pushback against this growing hate movement, including  Egale, Momentum Canada, and the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.
Encourage your Member of Parliament and provincial, territorial, and municipal political leaders to condemn these protests.

These groups will not stop at targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Recent incidents of violence and harassment across Canada make the real impact of this kind of hate starkly clear. Trans bodies and lives are on the line, and it’s up to all of us to take a stand.

An injury to one truly is an injury to all.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

2023 Branch Elections — Nominations and Elections Committees (NEC)

Each CIU Branch has a Nominations and Elections Committee (NEC) responsible for overseeing the elections throughout the Branch. The Chair and Secretary of the NEC are appointed by the outgoing Branch Executive.

If need be, the NEC can also appoint additional Returning Officers to oversee the electoral process in specific locations. Please contact your NEC for more information on this and on your Branch’s elections in general. You can contact the Chair or the Secretary of your Branch’s NEC using the information provided in the table below (which will be updated regularly).

You can also review electoral documents and forms here.

If you cannot contact your NEC, please contact the National Office at elections@ciu-sdi.ca.

Note: If necessary, use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the table.

Branch	NEC Chair Last & First Name	NEC Chair Work Number	NEC Secretary Last & First Name	NEC Secretary Work Number
90001 NL	Lane, Rhonda	709.256.1951	Walsh, Alex
80002 NS	Ernst, Jonathan	902.873.1335
60004 NB	Jamieson, Michael	506.325.3287	Schwarz, Nicholas	506.465.2280
10010 Québec	Lamontagne, Patrick		Proteau, Jonathan
10008 Eastern Townships	Tavara, Chantale		Samson, Vicky
10011 Lacolle	Smith, Mélanie
10007 Montréal	Khoury, Claude		Jean-Pierre, Fabienne
70066 HQ	Stille, Stephen		Williams, Paula
70027 Eastern Ontario	Cheung, Jonathan		Curran, Sean
00024 Toronto	Eccleston, Suzette	416.735.9019	Palma, Kimberly
00020 Hamilton	Jones, Marsha		Kott, Judy
00016 Niagara Falls	Kerr, Adam		Rezaei, Sajjad
00023 Fort Erie	McCaffrey, Zac	905.994.6330	Marriott, Tom	905.994.6330
00019 Sarnia	Theriault, Jasmine		Bailey, Liz
00017 London/Kitchener	Klassen, John		Blonde, Sarah
00018 Windsor	Dowler, Kevin		Vanloo, Bradley
00026 Northern Ontario	Stubinsky, Carole	705.941.3045	Oswin-McLarty, Norren	705.941.3045
50030 Manitoba	Steinthorson, Jessica	204.373.2474	Pitre, Derek	204.373.2474
40031 Saskatchewan	Hamid, Ummar	306.926.6285	Steffins, Noreen	306.483.5111
30036 AB	Hendrickson, Halle	587.337.0359	Laja, Michael	780.495.5373
20045 BC Southern	Schachtel, Spencer	250.447.9418	Phipps, Frank	250.447.9418
20040 Vancouver	Marasa, Amelia	604.666.0538	Cheng, Colin	604.666.0538
20042 BC Coastal	Dabrowski, Rita		Stoker, Astrid

PSAC challenges caps on damages in Canadian Human Rights Act

PSAC has filed a challenge with the Federal Court of Canada, calling for the removal of caps on human rights damages in the Canadian Human Rights Act, on the basis that these caps violate constitutional equality rights.

When a federal worker who has experienced discrimination in the workplace is awarded financial compensation for damages under the Canadian Human Rights Act there is a limit on the amount of damages they can receive. Since 1998, this limit has been capped at $20,000 for pain and suffering; and an additional $20,000 may be awarded where it is found that the employer discriminated in a wilful or reckless manner.

While there are limits on damages for discrimination, the amount of compensation a court can order for any other wrongful act on the part of the employer is not subject to the same limits. When a worker experiences discrimination based on sexism, racism, disability, or other human rights grounds, the impacts on their work, their life, and their health can be monumental. A global cap of $40,000 cannot meaningfully compensate a worker for pain and suffering and willful discrimination engaged in by an employer. This is especially the case given that these caps have not been adjusted for inflation since they were introduced 25 years ago.

Limiting damages under the CHRA is an added act of discrimination against individuals who have already experienced harm from discriminatory treatment on the part of their employer.

PSAC has filed a challenge to the limits on damages, on the basis that these limits violate equality rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. PSAC has filed its Statement of Claim* and evidentiary record, including expert affidavits. The government has filed its Statement of Defence** and is expected to file its evidentiary record in due course. A hearing date has not yet been confirmed.

For more information

Read PSAC’s statement of claim
*Unfortunately, the statement of claim is only available in English at this time.

Read the government statement of defence
**Unfortunately, the statement of defence is only available in English at this time.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.