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Join us: Urgent townhalls on workforce adjustments and cuts

The Carney government’s plan to slash public service budgets puts thousands of jobs and the services people rely on at risk. Join us for a virtual townhall to discuss how we can fight to protect public services and the workers who deliver them.

We’ll provide key updates on the latest proposed cuts from the Carney government, the growing threat of workforce adjustment, and what these changes could mean for you and your workplace.

We’ve already seen 10,000 federal jobs lost in the past year, with nearly 2,000 PSAC members impacted by workforce adjustments. Now, with departments being told to find up to 15% in “operational savings” over the next three years, even more workers could be facing layoff notices.

Join us for a virtual town hall to discuss the latest developments, how these cuts could impact you, and what we can do to fight back. Both town halls will be bilingual with simultaneous interpretation. Register to one of the townhalls below:

Tuesday, July 22 at 6 p.m. ET

OR

Wednesday, July 23 at 8 p.m. ET

This is your opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and hear about the steps we’re taking to defend public service workers.

Visit PSAC’s Workforce Adjustment Guide for more resources.

This article was first published on the PSAC website.

Employment Opportunity: Research Officer (one year term position)

The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Officer on a term basis (one year).

Applications will be received until close of business on August 11, 2025 (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.

National Indigenous Peoples Day: Celebrate, learn and take action

On June 21, PSAC celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day, reaffirming our commitment to reconciliation and honouring the rich history, resilience, and diverse heritage of Indigenous peoples. We encourage members to take the time to deepen their understanding of Indigenous history, share knowledge, and support ongoing reconciliation efforts to advance equity within our workplaces and communities.

There are many ways for members to get involved; taking time to reflect and better understand Indigenous histories and experiences, and through ongoing education and engagement.

PSAC has developed Walking in Our Truth Together, an online training course available to all members to help participants better understand the long and painful legacy of the residential school system, the Indian Act, and colonialist systems, while also offering inspiring ways everyone can  support reconciliation and offer solidarity  both in our union and our communities. Through first-hand accounts and critical discussions, our online course explores the history, experiences and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Turtle Island.

How you can participate:

  • Learn more: PSAC’s Walking in Our Truth Together is a self-guided online training designed to help you deepen your understanding of Indigenous histories and perspectives.
  • Share: Encourage colleagues to join the training and reflect together.
  • Take action: Advocate for Indigenous rights and justice at work and in your community by joining National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations.

Find an event near you

Take the course today

By deepening your understanding of Indigenous history, you can add your voice to the ingoing fight for justice and reconciliation.

This article was first published on the PSAC website.

PSAC encourages Carney government to invest in the public safety workforce in response to Bill C-2

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On June 4, 2025, the government introduced Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act. Among the series of its proposed measures, the bill seeks to bolster Canada’s capacity to combat transnational organized crime and keep our borders secure.

These legislative changes would give border services officers more authority, enhance the role of Canada’s Coast Guard, overhaul our immigration and asylum system, and increase the ability for frontline workers to detect drugs, money laundering and other harms from crossing our borders.

PSAC is pleased to see that Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree are fulfilling a platform commitment to build capacity in Canada’s public safety services and recognizes the role of public service workers in the government’s plan for a safer future.

“Bill C-2 proposes sweeping changes to Canada’s border and immigration systems – but no policy, no matter how ambitious, can succeed without the workers who deliver it,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “We welcome the government’s recognition of the critical roles public service workers play in securing our borders and we expect this commitment will be matched with the resources, staffing, and supports they need to do the job safely and effectively.”

Federal public service workers: Canada’s safety net

Many of the workers who carry out the duties outlined in this bill are frontline workers who have fought for years of fairness. Thousands of public service workers, including border services officers and Coast Guard search and rescue technicians, put their lives at risk to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in Canada. These workers, along with their colleagues whose work fall outside of this bill, such as Parks Canada wildland firefighters and paramedics working for the three northern territorial governments, currently lack access to equitable retirement benefits.

The federal government must follow through on the promise made in the last Fall Economic Statement to provide these workers with the ability to retire after 25 years of service without penalties. Reforming the pension plan is a major factor in the retention, recruitment and improving working conditions for these workers.

“By tabling Bill C-2 in the very early days of this new parliamentary session, the federal government is highlighting its willingness to tackle border issues head-on,” said Customs and Immigration Union National President Mark Weber. “We hope this is the first in a series of measures that will reinforce our border infrastructure, and we look forward to the Liberal government fulfilling its other campaign promises to that effect, including the hiring of 1,000 additional CBSA officers.”

“Canada counts on the specialized skills of its dedicated Coast Guard workers,” said Teresa Eschuk, National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees. “Across all our coasts, these workers are diligent in protecting and maintaining our waters and coastlines. We encourage this government to uphold open dialogue on the progress of this bill to ensure that the workers who diligently protect Canada are well-supported.”

Canada’s future depends on the integrity of its public service

Canada’s future is secured by public service workers. PSAC is hopeful that this government will continue to listen to their voices as they move Bill C-2 forward.

It is crucial that any reforms made to our country’s border and immigration systems uphold Canada’s commitment to human rights and privacy. We welcome ongoing discussions with this government to support the very workers who will implement these changes, and we will closely monitor how these new measures will be enforced.

This article was first published on the PSAC website.

New round of Treasury Board bargaining begins this month

Bargaining teams for the PA, SV, TC and EB groups are heading back to the table this month for their first meetings with the employer — talks that will set the tone for the months ahead as we negotiate new contracts for more than 120,000 federal public service workers.

These initial meetings are our first opportunity to present the priorities identified by members. It’s also the employer’s first chance to show whether they’re ready to make meaningful improvements to members’ working conditions.

The PA and SV group will meet with the employer on June 11 and 12, and the EB and TC groups will meet on June 18 and 19.

Key priorities

Thousands of members helped shape PSAC’s bargaining proposals by participating in our bargaining survey, submitting bargaining proposals, and attending our National Bargaining Conference.

Our key priorities include fair compensation that reflects the value of our work, greater job security and safer workplaces, and stronger provisions for remote work. We’ll share our demands once they’re tabled and keep you updated as talks unfold.

Stay connected

Make sure you’re on our mailing list to receive the latest bargaining updates as they happen. We’ll be sharing more throughout negotiations.

This article was first published on the PSAC website.

New CIU Scholarship Program: The Laurel Randle Memorial Bursary

CIU is proud to announce our new scholarship program! Starting this year, in an effort to help offset escalating tuition costs which act as a barrier to post secondary education, CIU will be offering a yearly bursary of one thousand dollars — the Laurel Randle Memorial Bursary.

A former member of the CIU National Board of Directors as well as a Labour Relations Officer working at the CIU National Office, Laurel Randle dedicated her professional life to union activism. In recognition of all her contributions to CIU and to union causes, Laurel’s name and legacy lives on through the Laurel Randle Memorial Bursary.

The yearly deadline to apply for the bursary is July 31 at 11:55 pm ET. For more information regarding the Scholarship Program, its eligibility requirements, and how to apply, please see: https://ciu-sdi.ca/en/laurel-randle-memorial-bursary/

CIU National President meets with Public Safety Minister Anandasangaree

On May 30, 2025, Customs and Immigration Union National President Mark Weber met with the new Public Safety Minister, Gary Anandasangaree, along with Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli.

With the new parliamentary session having just started this week, CIU is pleased that the Minister took time early in his mandate for this introductory meeting. The meeting focused on the party’s campaign promises — such as hiring 1,000 additional border officers —  with both the Minister and the Secretary of State taking a clear interest in matters affecting CIU members. It is evident that Minister Anandasangaree is keen on maintaining the good working relationship the union established with his predecessor. This first meeting set a positive tone and we look forward to the next opportunity to sit down with the Minister and advance ongoing issues of importance to our membership.

Employer to reimburse vacation and compensatory leave used on DPH

In a positive step forward for variable shift schedule workers at CBSA, the Union and the Employer have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) settling issues around the use of vacation and compensatory leave to cover hours not worked when an employee is scheduled on Designated Paid Holidays (DPH).

Background

The employer has long insisted that variable shift workers should use leave to cover the difference between the 7.5 hours credited to day workers on a holiday and the rest of their scheduled hours of work when they could not complete a shift scheduled on a DPH, a practice that the union has always argued was contrary to the language of our collective agreements. This led the union to file an unfair labour practice (ULP) on March 3, 2022, regarding the employer’s requirement for an employee who is scheduled to work on a DPH, and who requests not to complete an entire shift, to use vacation or compensatory leave to account for the unworked hours. On October 10, 2024, the Guay-Bassett decision addressed the use of sick or family-related leave in a similar context, providing much needed clarity by finding that the employer’s practice was indeed incompatible with our collective agreements.

In light of the 2024 Guay-Bassett decision, the employer and the union have now agreed that, moving forward, the employer will cease the practice of requiring that employees use any leave — sick, family-related, vacation, and compensatory — to cover unworked hours on a scheduled DPH. The new MoA also aims to address outstanding cases where employees were required to use vacation or compensatory leave in that context, for the period between May 3, 2022 (when the ULP was filed) and October 10, 2024 (when Guay-Bassett was issued).

MoA implementation: Information required from members

As per the MoA, the employer will reimburse affected employees who were required to use vacation or compensatory leave to cover hours not worked at the beginning or end of a DPH, for the period between May 3, 2022 and October 10, 2024. As part of the implementation of the agreement, the union has sixty (60) days from the date of signing — May 20, 2025 — to provide a list of affected employees to the employer.

Therefore, if you are currently or were previously working under a variable shift schedule and you were required by management to use vacation or compensatory leave to make up for unworked hours you were scheduled to work on a DPH for the period from May 3, 2022 to October 10, 2024, please forward the following information to chantal.beauchamp@ciu-sdi.ca as soon as possible and by Monday, July 14 at the latest to ensure you are included in the list provided to the employer:

  • Grievance (if any) filed on the matter
  • Proof of management requesting that you use vacation or compensatory leave, such as emails
  • Specific information about the affected shift (date, hours, amount of leave used)
  • Work location, name of involved managers, etc.

If you were required to use vacation or compensatory leave as per the context provided above prior to May 3, 2022, please reach out to your Branch President so your case can be assessed. Branch Presidents can reach out to their CIU Labour Relations Officer for further guidance.

Branch Presidents should also forward any relevant information they have pertaining to their members to chantal.beauchamp@ciu-sdi.ca prior to the deadline indicated above.

The employer will then have sixty days to review the list provided by the union. We will make sure to inform affected employees of any important progress.

Guay-Bassett Decision: Sick leave and family-related leave

The memorandum of agreement also includes language stemming from the 2024 Guay-Bassett Decision around reimbursing employees who filed grievances on the use of sick or family-related leave to account for unworked hours on a scheduled DPH. As per the agreement, both parties will be working together to confirm the list of affected grievances within thirty (30) days from the date of signing (May 20, 2025). Members who have relevant active grievances are therefore invited to provide the following information to chantal.beauchamp@ciu-sdi.ca as soon as possible and by Monday, June 14 at the latest to ensure they are included in the final list that will be reviewed by the employer:

  • Grievance wording and number
  • Which stage the grievance is at (as the union does not have the ability to track grievances prior to the final level)

The employer will then have ninety days to review the list provided by the union. We will make sure to inform affected employees of any important progress.

Branch Presidents should also forward any relevant information they have pertaining to  chantal.beauchamp@ciu-sdi.ca prior to the deadline indicated above.

May 17: International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

May 17 is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT).

2SLGBTQIA+ communities are increasingly under attack in Canada and around the world. Initiatives promoting diversity, equity and inclusion are being dismantled, putting hard-won rights at risk, and leading to a rise in hateful rhetoric.

This year’s IDAHOBIT theme, The Power Of Communities, reminds us that solidarity is our greatest strength. When we share knowledge, support each other, and raise our voices together, we push back against hate and create safe workplaces where everyone can thrive without fear.

On May 17, we invite you to explore some of the important 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations offering advocacy, education, and resources:

This content is based on a post by PSAC.

Prime Minister Carney’s new cabinet must put public services first

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The Carney government has named its first cabinet – now we have to make ensure protecting public services are at the core of their work.

Cabinet ministers make decisions every day that impact the public services people in Canada rely on and the workers who provide them. Each minister must ensure that supporting public services is a top commitment if we are to build a strong foundation against tariffs and economic uncertainty.

This cabinet includes key ministers and Secretaries of State who will have an important role in the delivery of public services, and PSAC will be pushing for these issues to be priorities and will keep members updated on how they will be impacted.

“This is a pivotal moment for our new government as workers in Canada face a cost-of-living crisis and families grapple with the impact of tariffs on our jobs and economy,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “Protecting the public services people rely on has to be at the heart of everything we do, and cabinet has a vital role to play in strengthening our public service and supporting the workers who deliver them.”

 

PSAC is calling for:

  • Strong, well-funded public services;
  • Enacting improvements to Canada’s Employment Equity Act and delivering justice for marginalized workers who have endured decades of discrimination.

The ministerial role of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement could be especially important in ensuring these issues are addressed.

“We support building an efficient, modern and robust federal public service, but we expect to be consulted and be part of an open dialogue about government transformation,” said DeSousa. “Major changes to the way the government operates will inevitably impact public services and the workers who deliver them.”

 

We’ll be seeking clarity about Minister Lightbound’s mandate and its impact on the future of Canada’s public service and plans to cap the size of government.

We are also disappointed that labour issues and workers’ rights haven’t been prioritized as a key portfolio in Prime Minister Carney’s central cabinet. While we look forward to advocating for workers with Secretary of State John Zerucelli, the lack of a voice for labour in a core cabinet position will mean there’s less of a focus on workers and families, especially the most vulnerable and precarious workers.

PSAC is also concerned about the lack of portfolios to address systemic barriers for many equity groups across the country, including anti-racism, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and persons with disabilities.

 

Key cabinet positions with an important role in the delivery of public services include:

  • President of the Treasury Board, Shafqat Ali
  • Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Joël Lightbound
  • Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu
  • Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree
  • Minister of National Defence, David J. McGuinty
  • Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez
  • Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon
  • Secretary of State (Labour), John Zerucelli

 

Together, we’ll ensure public service workers are respected, and the services people rely on are protected.

This article was first published on the PSAC website.

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