Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

COVID-19: PSAC strike votes and union events suspended

Strike votes

As the number of reported cases of the coronavirus rise in Canada, it is important that PSAC take precautions and act proactively to safeguard the health and safety of our members, as well as the Canadian public. In keeping with recommendations from both local and national health authorities, the union has made the difficult decision to suspend activities that would require a large gathering of members.

Strike votes in particular will be suspended until March 30, and at that time the union will re-evaluate whether to continue the suspension or resume the strike votes. This includes the over 120,000 PSAC members of the Canada Revenue Agency, Treasury Board, and Parks Canada bargaining units. We must put the wellbeing of our members and all Canadians first at this critical time.

Despite the suspension of votes, PSAC will continue to bargain for all units currently in negotiations.

For updates on the 2019-n-CoV/COVID-19 situation in Canada, please visit: Government of Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada) – 2019 Novel Coronavirus infection: Outbreak update

PSAC events

Some large gatherings will also be postponed for the time being. This includes the upcoming 2020 PSAC National Women’s Conference that was set to take place in Ottawa from April 3 to 5.

Should additional events be postponed, the union will be in touch directly with any participants that have registered for events and will update members on scheduling changes.

To ensure the safety of our members, we also ask that smaller gatherings like local meetings, committee meetings, and regional activities be conducted remotely via teleconference or video conference wherever possible, or postponed.

We will be updating our national website and social media as the situation develops.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

FB bargaining: No evidence of ‘culture change’ at CBSA

The FB bargaining team continued to push for greater protections against harassment and abuse of authority by management during negotiations with Treasury Board/Canada Border Services Agency March 9-12.

Yet despite buzzwords like promoting inclusion, respectfulness and the elimination of harassment in CBSA’s 2020-2021 Department Plan – unveiled this week – there was little evidence of a tonal shift on these or other issues at the bargaining table.

Our team made proposals to enhance protections against abuse of authority and harassment, but management still hasn’t agreed to any of these changes. CBSA is taking the position that language in our contract should continue to be limited largely to sexual harassment. We can’t accept this, as we believe our collective agreement should address all forms of harassment, not just sexual harassment.

We also spoke to our proposed expansion of protections against CBSA management’s heavy-handedness in dealing with our members – including discipline and the arbitrary removal of defensive equipment. There will need to be new protections on these issues in our collective agreement.

There can be no ‘culture change’ without real action

The departmental plan also refers to a long-term reduction in CBSA staff. Our members are already short-staffed and spread thin; PSAC-CIU are prepared to fight any move to reduce staff.

Lastly, the plan speaks of ‘leveraging technology to enable flexibility’, yet CBSA refuses to reinstate fair and reasonable telework practices for Trade Compliance Officers and other non-uniformed personnel.

With respect to wages, our review of recent law enforcement wage settlements across Canada is ongoing – including our monitoring of contract talks for a first collective agreement for RCMP officers. Our position has always been that FB 3s should be matched to RCMP 1^st class constables. In past rounds of bargaining, we’ve always reached agreements with full retroactive wage increases for our members. We have no intention of doing otherwise this round.

We’ll be returning to the table in early May and are in discussions for additional dates into the summer.

We’ll provide updates as bargaining continues. To review the package of proposals that we’ve tabled, and those of the employer, click here.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

A message from the National President to CIU members regarding the CSN

Sisters and Brothers,

We have been informed that several CIU members received a message from the CSN (UBO-SAF-CSN). The message was an invitation to join their union and it was sent to our members at their personal email address or to their CBSA mailbox.

Many of you complained that you did not provide your personal email address to the CSN and you objected to receiving this information at work.

Let me assure you that we take the CSN’s actions very seriously. Confidentiality of your information and your security is paramount to us. Only the CIU as your union and the PSAC as your certified bargaining agent are entitled to have and use the list of CIU members and their contact information. Neither the CIU nor the PSAC has shared this information with the CSN. We are conducting an investigation to identify the source of the leak and we will react accordingly.

Insofar as the use of the employer’s network is concerned, I believe CIU members are well aware that they are not permitted to use it for union-related matters. In fact, this is considered a breach of the Values and Ethics Guide (Electronic Monitoring Policy) which can result in discipline. We will let the Agency conduct its own investigation as it seems that their list of employees was shared with the CSN. For members who are upset by this situation, we ask that you contact the Agency.

It appears to us that the CSN is using its website and the electronic card posted there to collect the personal and professional information of CIU members and is using this information without members’ consent, to create a CSN database.

CIU members’ concerns regarding the raid itself as well as suggestions we have received to counter the CSN are being examined and we will be providing you with an update on this in the near future.

In the meantime, and if you have questions about the raid, the CSN, have information about the data leak, or if someone from the CSN reaches out to you either at home or at work, please contact your Branch Executive, the National office or send us an email at raid-maraudage@ciu-sdi.ca.

The FB bargaining team is back at the table next week and an update will be provided before March 13. We will also keep you apprised of possible legal avenues regarding the use of your personal information.

Now more than ever, we need to stay united. Let’s not get distracted by the CSN and its raid campaign. That’s what the CSN wants. What we want is to negotiate the best possible contract for you and to continue fighting for your rights.

In solidarity,
Jean-Pierre Fortin
National President
Customs and Immigration Union

PSAC celebrates women’s power to create change

International Women’s Day is a time to look back on the victories and struggles that have led to greater gender equality in Canada and around the world. It is also a day to remember that there is still much more work to be done to achieve equality for all women.

Throughout our history, PSAC has fought and achieved significant improvements for women at the bargaining table, in the courts and through mobilization and action. PSAC remains committed to breaking through the barriers faced by all women, including racialized women, Indigenous women, lesbians, bisexual women, trans women, non-binary people and women with disabilities.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with some of PSAC’s women leaders to talk about why it’s so important for women to join their union.

Despite the incredible victories women have achieved through their union, we need your support to overcome the challenges that still stand in the way of gender equality.

On this International Women’s Day, let’s call on the federal, provincial and territorial governments to:

implement all recommendations from the Calls for Justice;
implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
commit to a plan for affordable, high-quality childcare;
integrate an intersectional approach to the implementation of the National Action Plan to end gender-based violence;
ensure pay equity legislation is enacted effectively;
provide workers with 10 paid days of domestic violence leave;
ratify International Labour Organization Convention C-190; and
increase funding and access to women’s shelters and sexual assault support centres.

PSAC women have won groundbreaking advances in pay equity, the first-ever collective agreement clause providing sexual harassment protection, paid maternity and parental leave, same sex benefits, domestic violence leave and much more.

We encourage all women to get involved in their union – because together, we have the power to create lasting change!

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Strike votes for PA, SV, TC & EB bargaining units begin March 16

PSAC National President Chris Aylward has authorized strike votes for members of the PA, SV, TC and EB bargaining units following the release of the Public Interest Commission (PIC) report last week.

More than 90,000 members of the four bargaining units will have an opportunity to vote at strike meetings to be held from March 16 to May 7, 2020. Strike votes for the 27,000 members of the Canada Revenue Agency bargaining unit are already underway.

“PSAC bargaining teams need a strong strike mandate from members to force Treasury Board to come back to the bargaining table with a new mandate so that we can get a fair settlement quickly,” said Aylward.

Aylward noted that the Public Interest Commission (PIC) report on common issues made it clear that to reach a deal the government will need to offer PSAC members more Phoenix compensation and a wage increase in line with the cost of living. The report also highlighted the need to address compensation gaps and recruitment/retention challenges for those groups that are underpaid relative to comparable groups inside or outside the federal public sector.

The government’s current offer falls short on all fronts. They have yet to table wage increases that would ensure rises in the cost of living are met, and their Phoenix compensation proposal remains meagre and unequal across the public service.

“The threat of a strike will give the employer the nudge it needs to avoid more disruption during their minority government,” said Aylward.

“That’s why we urge all PSAC members to vote yes.”

In the coming weeks members will receive notices of strike vote meetings via email and through your locals and regional offices. The information will also be posted on the front page of the national website, as well on PSAC regional websites.

Please check out the following link if you would like more information on strike votes and strike action. We’ll be adding more information in the days ahead to answer a wide range of questions so make sure to check back.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.