Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

Treasury Board strike, day 10 : Members’ determination doesn’t go unnoticed

PSAC and CIU members once again ramped up the pressure across the country today, with highly effective pickets at several ports of entry resulting in increased border wait times in locations such as Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, ON, Ambassador Bridge, in Windsor, ON, and the Aldergrove port of entry in BC. Picket lines, big and small, were also present in Stanstead, QC, Edmonton, AB, Fort Frances, ON, Halifax, NS, St. John’s, NL, and more.

With the announcement this afternoon of renewed talks between PSAC and Treasury Board, it’s safe to say that the employer took notice of our members’ resolve and determination. As PSAC continues bargaining this weekend in order to reach a fair deal for 155,000 Treasury Board and CRA members, we can only be thankful for the sustained solidarity displayed by our members over the last ten days.

To the striking PA, EB, SV and TC members who are active both on and off picket lines, and to the non-striking FB members who support them in a multitude of ways: You make your union stronger.

See photos of the day, below.

Reaction to 2023 Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Crime Forum

Today, following the conclusion of the 2023 Canada-United States Cross-Border Crime Forum, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti, along with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, announced a series of measures and agreements between the agencies in both countries, including CBSA, to increase cooperation and curb gun smuggling and other cross-border crimes. Amongst other points, the announcement highlighted the desire to reduce gun trafficking through increased joint investigations, sharing of intelligence, and tracing of illegal firearms.

The Customs and Immigration Union welcomes this renewed focus on cross-border cooperation by both governments to address the issue of gun smuggling into Canada. Absent from this announcement, however, is any real commitment to bolster Canada’s frontline and ensure our borders are properly staffed. Updating and modernizing legislation, prevention strategies, and agreements only make sense if accompanied by further investments into the border workforce. As it stands, the Canadian border is severely understaffed and poorly equipped to truly stem the flow of illegal goods, including firearms of all sorts. If this new era of renewed cooperation between the two countries is to have a real, lasting impact, it is crucial to properly support and empower our border services personnel tasked with protecting our communities.

It is also worth noting, once again, the complete absence of consultation with the union on these matters. CBSA’s upper echelons continue to be disconnected from the realities in the field, as virtually all upper management has little to no actual experience on the frontline. By not relying on the experience of frontline officers and other personnel, the Agency is wilfully ignoring precious insight into how to best approach —and solve — the issue of illegal firearms entering Canada.

Click here to watch the announcement on YouTube.

Refusal to cross picket line, port of Saint John, New Brunswick — Letter to ILA President

CIU National President Mark Weber sent the following letter to Harold J. Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, on April 28, 2023.

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National Day of Mourning — April 28

This April 28, on the National Day of Mourning, we will join over 100 countries in remembering those who have lost their lives due to work-related causes.

Every year, people across the globe die as a result of unsafe working conditions, insufficient health and safety measures and protection equipment, and poorly implemented policies. All too often, these deaths could have been avoided. In Canada, hundreds of workplace fatalities are still recorded. The last few years have also highlighted the importance of comprehensive health and safety measures and proper access to protective equipment.

Despite important improvements to workplace safety standards over the last century — thanks in large part to continued union efforts — much work remains to be done to ensure that all workers are adequately protected against preventable work-related accidents or illness.

The Customs and Immigration Union attaches great importance to its members’ health and safety, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect them from harm. Given the dangers that so many workers are still confronting today, let us all observe a moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. on the National Day of Mourning.

Treasury Board strike, day 9: Lacolle, Pearson, and more

The 9^th day of the Treasury Board and CRA strike saw members rallying at both the Toronto Pearson International Airport and the Lacolle port of entry, as strike actions continue across the country. Members also took part in pickets in Woodstock, Fort Frances, Boissevain, Sault Ste. Marie, the National Capital Region, and more.

See photos of the day, below: