Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

Remembrance Day 2023

On November 11, we remember and honour the thousands of women and men who have laid down their lives for our country.

Remembrance Day presents us with an opportunity not only to recognize the dedication and sacrifices — past and present — of Canadians of all horizons, but also to reflect on how to build a better, fairer world where such sacrifices may no longer be necessary. To the women and men who have demonstrated courage and commitment in the face of adversity, we thank you.

In honour of all who have served, CIU will be half-masting the National Flag of Canada flying at the CIU National Office, in Ottawa.

National Indigenous Veterans Day

November 8 marks National Indigenous Veterans Day.

On this day, we honour the First Nations, Inuit and Métis men and women who serve and have served with distinction in the Canadian military for more than a century. Their contributions, both on the frontlines and at home, cannot be overstated, and Canada owes them a debt of gratitude. Their sacrifice is made all the more poignant by the discrimination many of these veterans experienced — and still experience — from Canadian society at large. As we continue to grow as a country, recognizing the contribution of Indigenous veterans and their role in our shared history is more important than ever.

In honour of First Nations, Inuit and Métis veterans, CIU is half-masting the National Flag of Canada flying at the CIU National Office in Ottawa.

FB group bargaining proceeding to Public Interest Commission to continue fight for a fair contract

The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) has appointed a Public Interest Commission (PIC) to advance negotiations for 8,500 members in the FB group.

The appointment of the PIC follows the bargaining team’s declaration of impasse after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) refused to budge on our key issues – including retirement benefits and wage parity with the broader law enforcement community, job protection, access to telework, and new rights around VSSAs and shift scheduling.

What’s more, CBSA continues to insist on concessions at the table. This includes clawbacks that would see short shift change notices go from 7 days to 48 hours, care and nurturing leave being subjected to operational requirements, and negotiated shift schedules heavily curtailed, negatively impacting our members.

Bargaining began in June 2022 – before the contract expired – and both parties have met almost every month since. Despite this, the employer asked the labour board to deny the declaration of impasse, asking that the bargaining process be further delayed.

We are determined to reach a fair contract that protects our hard-fought gains and provides new rights and protections for PSAC-CIU members.

How does the PIC work?

Under the law that governs contract negotiations in the federal public service, a PIC is established to help the parties reach an agreement once impasse is declared at the bargaining table.

The PIC is a panel of three people — a chairperson appointed by the Labour Board and nominees appointed by the union and the employer. Each side presents briefs to explain their positions on the outstanding issues at a hearing and the PIC issues a report with non-binding recommendations for reaching a settlement.

Once the PIC releases its report, the union will meet to discuss the recommendations at which point the parties typically return to the table to resume negotiations with the employer.

What are the next steps?

The union and employer will nominate their board members and the labour board will set hearing dates. The timeline is largely dependent on availability of all three parties. We will continue to provide updates as things progress. As always, membership support will be the key to getting a fair contract.

Get involved and support bargaining

Everything we do in the workplace to show CBSA we are paying attention to the issues and support our bargaining team – no matter how big or small – makes a difference as we push for a fair contract.

Members of the FB bargaining team are teaming up with Branch Executive members to visit worksites and hold membership meetings across the country.

This is your opportunity to meet the bargaining team, hear a bargaining update, and get materials so you can show your support during this round of bargaining.

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest updates. If you have any questions, please contact your Customs and Immigration Union branch president or visit the CIU and PSAC websites.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

FB group: your rights in the workplace

Yes, you can wear union swag on the job

PSAC-CIU members have the right to wear union materials on the job. This is confirmed by two Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board decisions.

In 2018 the federal labour relations board found Canada Border Services Agency’s arbitrary ban on wearing orange “I support my bargaining team” shoelaces anywhere except boots to be an unfair labour practice and a violation of the collective agreement. The judgment guaranteed members’ rights to wear these shoelaces as hair ties or bracelets, should they choose to do so.

Full decision – 2018 FPSLREB 66, Public Service Alliance of Canada v. Treasury Board (Canada Border Services Agency)

In 2012, the board made a ruling that protected members’ rights to wear red “support the bargaining team” bracelets while on duty and rejected the claim that it was a violation of the uniform policy.

Full decision – 2012 PSLRB 21, Bartlett et al. v. Treasury Board (Canada Border Services Agency)

Know your rights

We have the right to promote and build our union in the workplace, and that includes the virtual workspace. Members have the right to be kept informed and take action during non-work time, before or after shifts and during paid and unpaid breaks and lunch periods.

You have the right to:

Talk about the union. You can talk to co-workers about the union at work, including through virtual meetings, as you would any other subject — and help keep everyone informed about PSAC’s activities.
Share information. You can sign petitions, sign up for events, and share bargaining-related information during non-working time. However, ensure that this is done via personal, non-work email accounts, rather than work email.
Wear the union message. You can wear buttons, lanyards, stickers, t-shirts, shoelaces, epaulettes, velcro patches and name tags and other items that communicate the union’s message.
Use a union virtual background and signature block. You can use a virtual background and signature blocks expressing support for your union and bargaining team (e.g., on Microsoft Teams/Zoom and Outlook).
Attend rallies and mobilization events. You can take part in in-person rallies or other union events during your paid breaks as well as before or after work.

If management interferes with these rights or discourages you from exercising them, alert a CIU Branch steward or executive member or your PSAC regional office right away.

Virtual backgrounds

Video background
Signature block
Social media frame
I support my bargaining team printable poster

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PSAC announces winners of 2023 scholarship program

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s PSAC scholarship awards. We are proud to see a new generation of strong labour activists from across the country committed to advancing our movement.

Recipients were selected from hundreds of applications from PSAC members and their families. Awards were granted based on the merit of an essay, video, infographic, song, or other creative submission about the role of Truth and Reconciliation in the union movement.

PSAC thanks all participants who applied for their compelling and thought-provoking submissions.

The 2024 scholarship program will re-open mid-April with new guidelines and application forms.

National Awards

Hewan Gebremedhin – $4,000 AGR-PSAC
Hewan lives in Medicine Hat, Alta., and is the daughter of Mulu Gebremedhin of the Union of National Defence Employees, Local 30907.

Aniqa Jalal – $4,000 Coughlin-PSAC
Aniqa is from Halifax, N.S., and her father, Kazi Shah Jalal, is a member of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, Local 80809.

Lydia Enzinas – $3,000 AGR-PSAC
Lydia is from Jerseyville, Ont., and her mother, Michelle Enzinas, is a member of Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, Local 70703.

Amelia Neo – $3,000 AGR-PSAC
Amelia is from Kamloops, British Columbia and her father, Vincent Neo, is a member of the Canada Employment and Immigration Union, Local 30872.

Meg- Anne Lachance – $3,000 Coughlin-PSAC
Meg-Anne is from Sherbrooke, Que., and is the child of Philippe Lachance of the Union of Safety and Justice Employees, Local 10024.

Amy Greenwood – $3,000 Coughlin-PSAC Amy lives in North Vancouver, B.C., and her father, Adam Greenwood, is a member of the Customs and Immigration Union, Local 20040.

Lise Charles- $2,000 J.R. (Joe) Power
Lise lives in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and is the daughter of Jean Davis of the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees, Local 90001.

Equity Awards

Nathan Gamble – $3,000
Nathan lives in Regina, Sask., and is a member of Directly Chartered Local 40005.

Daanis Bruneau-Cormier – $ 3,000
Daanis is from Winnipeg, Man., and is the daughter of Angèle Cormier, of the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees, Local 50022.

Nikolas Gelinas – $3,000
Nikolas lives in Regina, Sask., and is the son of Jean-Claude Gelinas of the Union of National Defence Employees, Local 40800

Lara Mercier-Jung – $3,000
Lara lives in Burnaby, B.C., and her mother, Lilianne Mercier, is a member of the Union of Health and Environment Workers, Local 20147

Isabella Pascucci – $3,000
Isabella is from Toronto, Ont., and her mother, Wanda Pascucci, is a member of the Canada Employment and Immigration Union, Local 548.

Members’ Awards

Sean Maverick Celi- $2,000 PSAC Members’
Sean lives in Surrey, B.C., and is a member of Canada Employment and Immigration Union, Local 20938.

Waheedah El-Bagdady – $2,000 PSAC Members’
Waheedah is from London, Ont., and a member of the Union of Safety and Justice Employees, local 89.

Michelle Crawley- $2,000 PSAC Members’
Michelle is from Ottawa, Ont., and a member of the Union of National Employees, local 70372.

Andrew Barker- $1,000 PSAC Members’
Andrew is from Gloucester, Ont., and is a member of Canada Employment and Immigration Union, local 70705.

Antoine Dumas- $1,000 PSAC Members’
Antoine is from Gatineau, Que., and is a member of the Union of National Employees, local 70148.

Regional Awards

Brandon Fougere- $1,000 Atlantic
Brandon is from Cornwall, P.E.I., and is the son of Patricia Fougere, member of Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees, Local 90001.

Michael Maudsley- $1,000 British Columbia
Michael lives in Victoria, B.C., and is the son of Jennifer Maudsley, member of the Customs and Immigration Union Local 20042.

Kalleigh Heffernan – $1,000 National Capital Region
Kalleigh is from Toronto, Ont., and is the child of Robert Heffernan of the Union of National Defence Employees, Local 70611.

Ryder Benoit – $1,000 North
Ryder is from Whitehorse, Yukon, and is the son of Tara Sheridan, member of the Yukon Employees’ Union, Local Y010.

Ella Norland – $1,000 Ontario
Ella is from Brights Grove, Ont., and is the daughter of Gene Norland, member of the Customs and Immigration Union, Local 19.

Eden Harriman- $1,000 Prairies
Eden lives in Prince Albert, Sask., and her mother, Shannon Harriman, is a member of the Union of Health and Environment Workers, Local 40027.

Eva Corriveau- $1,000 Quebec
Eva is from Trois-Rivières, Que., and her father, Martin Corriveau, is a member of the Union of National Employees.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.