Over the last several weeks CBSA has been attempting to undermine the legal rights of CIU/PSAC members in the FB bargaining unit.
It is our position that CBSA’s communications concerning the arming of officers misinformed employees of their rights under both our contract and federal law. We also believe that CBSA’s recent arming communications represented an attempt to intimidate, coerce and harass employees.
Last Wednesday CIU representatives, along with PSAC legal counsel, met with CBSA representatives in Ottawa. In the meeting our union’s representatives reiterated that CBSA’s recent communications around arming violate our collective agreement, federal law and CBSA’s own accommodation policies. We called on CBSA to rescind its communications around the arming initiative and instead follow what is prescribed under our contract and the law. CBSA committed to provide us a response within three weeks.
In the meantime we have filed both our policy grievance and our Unfair Labour Practice complaint with the Public Service Labour Relations Board. Our complaint to the Human Rights Commission will be filed on Thursday. We will take CBSA to court if they do not rescind their communications concerning arming and CDT.
We will defend our rights.
We will update as things progress. Our collective agreement states that the employer cannot harass, intimidate or discriminate against employees by reason of physical or mental disability. If you manager is in violation of this clause of the collective agreement follow up with your Union Representative immediately so that a grievance may be filed where applicable.
