Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

TC group: no progress on key demands following mediation

Following a week of mediation, the federal government continues to refuse to budge on its wage offer that would deliver a pay cut to nearly 11,000 federal public service workers in the TC group who are facing record high inflation and a looming recession.

This revised wage offer was initially proposed during Common Issues mediation in September and would average 2.06% per year over a four-year agreement. Treasury Board held fast to this wage offer during mediation with the TC group, October 17-21.

TC negotiators made it clear that the current offer is unacceptable, and that a fair contract offer is necessary.

Yet the government is demanding concessions and made no move to resolve key issues for TC group members, including the large number of group-specific allowances that we are proposing to ensure that our members are fairly compensated.

In response, PSAC has launched both in-person and online strike training for our more than 165,000 federal public service members to ratchet up the pressure on the government to bargain fairly.

PSAC will now raise these issues at the Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearings conducted by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board. PIC dates have been set for Common Issues, November 28 to December 1, and for the TC group on December 9.

If an agreement cannot be reached during the PIC process, PSAC members should be prepared to continue escalating our actions, up to and including taking strike action if necessary to reach a fair contract.

Stay informed and engaged

Getting involved and taking action are key as we push for a fair contract. Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action:

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest bargaining updates.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Telework at CBSA: Responding to the Agency’s hybrid work model

Photo of CIU flag

Dear members,

Over the past few weeks, the implementation of the new hybrid work model by CBSA has once again demonstrated the Agency’s inability to properly assess the needs of — and consult with — its employees before enforcing sweeping policy changes. While nuance and flexibility should have been common sense, the Agency’s preference for an ill-suited, one-size-fits-all approach has been of great concern, and we’ve been hard at work to hold the employer to task.

What many of you have shared with us is troubling: You’ve been asked to return to the office with very little notice and without any clear or consistent explanation as to why it was necessary to do so. More egregious is the blatant lack of interest from the Agency to pursue a consultation process that would have accounted for both CBSA’s service requirements and its employees needs — or to even issue comprehensive guidelines to managers — before implementing this policy.

As things stand, what is clear is that the Agency’s hybrid work model is being applied without rhyme or reason, with some workplaces going so far as justifying mandatory in-person attendance with the need to ‘socialize around the water cooler’.

At the end of the day, the sad yet unsurprising reality is that all of this flies in the face of the Treasury Board Secretariat’s very own guidance on telework and a hybrid workforce, and that much of this could have been avoided if the Agency had not opted once again to skirt its responsibility to consult with both union and staff.

This situation formed much of the discussion at the recent CIU National Board of Directors meeting, and we are working toward seeing your concerns addressed through different means, including the possibility of grievances should it prove necessary. PSAC, too, has committed to following up with Treasury Board on the matter, and the issue of telework remains a major priority at the bargaining table. Our goal is clear: The Agency must not only provide clear reasoning as to why, how, and when an employee needs to report to the workplace before implementing any sort of hybrid work arrangement, it must also genuinely listen to the needs and concerns of its workforce.

This can be a complex process, but it is the only way to ensure employees are treated in a fair and equitable manner. Many of you have worked remotely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, doing so admirably and continuing to serve the Canadian public to the highest standard without any disruption in service, making telework a success story. The Customs and Immigration Union is incredibly proud of the work that you do, and we are here to ensure that you are treated in a manner befitting your dedication to your duties. Do not hesitate to reach out to your Branch President should you require any help or guidance on this matter — we’re here to help.

Stay tuned for more information as things progress.

In solidarity,

Mark Weber
National President
Customs and Immigration Union

TB Bargaining: Public Interest Commission dates set

The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board has scheduled Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearings for the EB, PA, SV, and TC groups.

The following dates have been set: 

  • EB November 21, December 12-13
  • PA November 28th to December 1st
  • SV November 28-30
  • TC December 9

Next steps 

As hearings take place, PSAC will continue to fight for an agreement that includes fair wages, better work-life balance, job security and inclusive workplaces.

Following hearings, we expect to receive a PIC report that will include non-binding recommendations for reaching agreements at the bargaining table.

Meanwhile, we’re escalating our pressure on the government by launching strike training for more than 165,000 federal public service workers at impasse with the federal government.

Sign up for strike training 

Stay informed and engaged   

Getting involved and taking action are key as we push for a fair contract. Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action:

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest bargaining updates.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Government announces historic anti-scab legislation

The federal government’s move this week to ban the use of replacement workers is an historic moment for labour in Canada. PSAC has long fought for protections against the use of scab workers during strikes.

The government has announced the start of a consultation process to develop legislation to ban the use of scabs (replacement workers) in federally regulated workplaces. The process includes an open consultation until December 16, with the expected introduction of legislation by early 2023.

PSAC looks forward to participating in this consultation process to strengthen the collective bargaining rights of PSAC members. We will work to ensure that legislation includes:

  • No loopholes. When unionized workers are on strike or locked out, no one will be able to perform their work – not new or temporary hires, not management, not workers in other bargaining units, students or other workers. The work stops…full stop;
  • Provisions to levy hefty financial penalties for employers that violate the new rules. Employers need to feel the pinch to deter them from hiring scab labour;
  • Rules that prevent employers from trying to contract out, transfer or discontinue work once the bargaining process begins, in anticipation of a strike or lock-out; and,
  • Quick and clear legal avenues to pursue complaints when employers break the rules.

We know that free and fair collective bargaining – without the threat of scabs taking workers’ jobs or imposing back-to-work legislation – is the best avenue to reach good agreements and stable workplaces. The use of scabs pits working people against each other and takes advantage of non-unionized workers who are desperate for work.

We look forward to meaningful consultation and progressive, robust legislation that protects the rights of workers.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PA group: No movement on wages, key issues after mediation

Following a week of mediation, the federal government is refusing to budge on its wage offer that would effectively deliver a pay cut to nearly 95,000 federal public service workers in the PA group facing record high inflation.

Their revised wage offer was initially proposed during Common Issues mediation in September and would average 2.06% per year over a four-year agreement. Treasury Board held fast to this wage offer during mediation October 4-7.

Our team made it clear that’s not good enough, and PSAC members expect this government to come to the table with a fair contract that protects workers’ buying power.

The government is also still demanding concessions, and made no move to resolve key issues for PA Group members, including group-specific allowances, improvements to call centre working conditions, wage adjustments, or an allowance to compensate employees who use Indigenous languages in the workplace.

Treasury Board seems intent on delaying negotiations and dragging their feet on our most important issues, setting back our members who have been without a new contract since June 2021. In response, PSAC has launched both in-person and online strike training for our more than 165,000 federal public service members to ratchet up the pressure on the government to bargain fairly.

PSAC will now raise these issues at Public Interest Commission hearings, to be scheduled this fall by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board. Meanwhile, dates have been set for mediation for the SV, TC and EB groups:

  • SV: October 11-14
  • TC: October 18-21
  • EB: October 25-27

If an agreement cannot be reached during the Public Interest Commission process, PSAC members should be prepared to continue escalating our actions, up to and including taking strike action if necessary to reach a fair contract.

Stay informed and engaged

Getting involved and taking action are key as we push for a fair contract. Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action:

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest bargaining updates.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.