Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

Final chance to submit your FB strike vote!

PSAC has already held 20 virtual strike info sessions and four strike preparation webinars, and we’ve received great feedback from FB members. In order to ensure all members have the opportunity to vote, we’re hosting one final strike vote information session.

The national virtual session will be held this Thursday, July 22 and will be bilingual with simultaneous interpretation. All members are encouraged to join this meeting regardless of the location of their CIU branch.

Register now for Thursday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

You must attend a mandatory information session (10-15 minutes) for your vote to be counted. If you’ve already participated in an information session, but haven’t voted, you have until Friday, July 23 at 12:00 p.m. EDT to submit your vote. Voting will be closed after this time and results will be announced the following week.

Under regulation 15 of the PSAC Constitution, every member must attend a mandatory information session (normally about 10-15 mins) to be eligible to vote. This is so we can ensure that everyone has the information they need to make an informed decision and give you an opportunity to ask questions. After attending one of these sessions, you will gain access to information on how to vote. You must have your attendance recorded at one of the 10-15 minute presentation portions or your vote will not be counted.

Any questions you may have about strike votes or strike action can be answered at the virtual vote information sessions that will take place before you vote. However, to provide you with as much information as possible ahead of time, we have compiled key questions and answers for you.

This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.

19th National Convention — Last Day

On the last day of the 19^th Convention, delegates voted on Convention Resolutions, and elected the new CIU National Executive, Human Rights Representative, Young Workers Representative, and Alternates:

National President Mark Weber (elected)
1^st National Vice-President Rick Savage (elected)
2^nd National Vice-President Ken Turner (elected)
3^rd National Vice-President Claude Bouchard (acclaimed)
4^th National Vice-President Michael Aessie (elected)
National Human Rights Representative Murray Star (acclaimed)
Alternate National Human Rights Representative Sophie Martin (elected)
National Young Workers Representative Yanniv Waknine (acclaimed)
Alternate National Young Workers Representative Sandra Richard (acclaimed)

Larry Rousseau overseeing the elections of the new CIU National Executive and National Representatives & Alternates.

Outgoing National President Jean-Pierre Fortin chairing the last day of the 19^th National Convention.

Swearing in of new the nine new representatives

Jean-Pierre Fortin swearing in the new national representatives. From left to right, top: Ken Turner, Michael Aessie, Sandra Richard. Left to right, middle: Murray Star, Richard Savage, Yanniv Waknine. Left to right, bottom: Sophie Martin, Mark Weber, Claude Bouchard.

19th National Convention — Second Day

The second day of the 19^th National Convention was busy as always. In particular, delegates voted to adopt the budget for the next two years (the pandemic having had an impact on the duration of the next mandate). Nominations & Elections Chair (and CLC Executive Vice-President) Larry Rousseau — pictured below — also briefed Convention delegates on the procedure to follow for the elections taking place on on Day 3.

CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin looks on as CLC Executive Vice-President (and Nominations & Elections Chair) Larry Rousseau briefs the Convention delegates on election procedure

19th National Convention — First Day

July 8, 2021, was the first day of CIU’s 19^th National Convention. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also the first day of our union’s first ever virtual convention, with the CIU National President, Jean-Pierre Fortin, chairing the meeting from the studio in Ottawa, and all delegates attending virtually.

Despite these unusual circumstances, delegates were keen to take on Convention business, and had the opportunity to hear reports from the National President as well as from CIU National Representatives. We were also glad to welcome PSAC National President Chris Aylward for the opening address, as well as FB national negotiator Morgan Gay.

CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin and PSAC National President Chris Aylward in studio, in Ottawa

Jean-Pierre Fortin listens as Morgan Gay addresses Convention.

Employment Opportunity: Executive Assistant to the National President (Permanent position)

The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) is seeking to hire a full-time bilingual Executive Assistant to the National President (Band 9) with extensive experience to be staffed on a full-time indeterminate basis.

Applications will be received until close of business on July 7, 2021 (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.