Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

Strike action for more than 9,000 CBSA workers on hold as mediation continues until June 12

Strike action for more than 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers across the country is on hold as the union and the government agreed to extend negotiations with the assistance of a mediator until June 12 to reach a fair contract for workers.

“We’ve paused all strike action as talks continue to reach a fair contract for workers,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “Our members keep our borders moving, goods flowing and our families safe, and deserve a contract that delivers fair wages, equitable retirement and makes CBSA a better place to work.”

All strike activities have been postponed as mediation continues into next week. A new strike deadline will be set in the coming days, and job action remains possible for CBSA workers if an agreement cannot be reached at the table.

“I’m hopeful we can reach a deal and avoid disruptions at Canada’s borders,” said Mark Weber, Customs and Immigration Union National President. “Our members are essential – protecting our borders, preventing auto theft and stopping illegal drugs and firearms from entering Canada – and they deserve a fair contract that treats them with respect and dignity in line with other law enforcement agencies across the country.”

Due to the sensitive nature of ongoing negotiations, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Customs and Immigration Union will not be providing media interviews during mediation.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Pending FB strike: A message from the National President regarding voluntary overtime

Anyone who has worked for CBSA will know how entrenched overtime is within the Agency. For the employer, it is the preferred tool for managing chronic staffing shortages. For many of our members, it provides an important percentage of their total annual compensation. Under normal circumstances, our members want to work overtime and the employer is happy to oblige — indeed, most grievances filed regarding overtime are about not getting enough of it.

But these are not normal times.

Within a few short days, as early as Thursday June 6, the FB bargaining unit will be in a legal strike position. Most of our FB members, however, are designated essential and will be on the job. While that means they will have a legal obligation to fulfill the duties of their position, this comes with absolutely no obligation to volunteer for overtime.

In fact, starting today and until a tentative agreement has been secured, we are asking all of our FB members to think carefully before volunteering to work extra hours. It’s one thing to be ordered to work overtime by management, who certainly has the right to issue such an order. It’s quite another thing altogether to volunteer to work overtime for an employer who systematically seeks to undermine our collective rights by pushing for concessions at the table, round after round.

Every member of the FB bargaining team will tell you that the employer has yet to agree to any of our key demands, and has certainly not volunteered to do so. Not on retirement, not on wages, not on telework, not on job security, and certainly not on detoxifying the workplace. Why then volunteer to help management deal with scheduling gaps, when CBSA won’t voluntarily address a single gap in our collective agreement?

Strikes are a last resort that succeed through solidarity and sacrifice. To get a fair deal, we all need to be in this together.

Thank you and in solidarity,

Mark Weber
CIU National President

National Public Service Week Boycott

To all CIU members:

National Public Service Week, set to take place this year from June 9 to June 15, is intended as an opportunity for the federal government to recognize the contributions of federal public service workers.

Given the state of things at the FB bargaining table, the abysmal record of CBSA management towards our members, and the overall tenor of the relationship between the federal government and federal public service unions in the wake of the recent telework debacle, it is safe to say that any such recognition would ring hollow.

Recognition should not be a matter of mere words but of actions, and the employer’s current actions towards our members speak volumes.

At the FB table, they have pushed the process to the point of impasse, going through the motions of an unnecessary long and meandering exercise to avoid giving our FB members a fair contract, not even bothering with putting forward a proper wage offer.

Regarding equitable retirement options for the FB group, despite repeated calls to do what’s right and propose the necessary legislative changes that would make retirement after 25 years of service possible, the federal government continues to drag its feet.

On the telework front, affecting a large swath of our members, Treasury Board has signaled it has zero intention of engaging in meaningful work with unions to create a framework that would work for workers, not against them.

The strong strike mandate secured by our FB members on May 23 sends a clear message to the employer that we are mobilized and ready. As the employer’s churlish approach to bargaining continues to drive us towards a repeat of August 6, 2021, it goes without saying that National Public Service Week activities organized by the employer should be summarily ignored. Respect trumps recognition, and the absence of respect from CBSA for our members is palpable.

Instead, I encourage members to find different ways of celebrating our collective strength. Where rallies or other union activities are set to take place, I invite members from all units to support FB mobilization efforts to show the employer that we are ready to act as one.

Finally, on a personal note, I continue to be immensely proud of representing the CIU membership. Your sustained dedication and ability to push back against one of the worst employers of the federal public service is truly remarkable.

Thank you and in solidarity,

Mark Weber
CIU National President

Letter to CBSA President: CIU representatives to cease interacting with the employer

In light of the strike mandate secured by the FB members of the Customs and Immigration Union on May 23, 2024, and as per the letter sent to CBSA President Erin O’Gorman on May 27, 2024, CIU representatives at all levels are to cease interacting with the employer regarding union-related matters, for all units, effective immediately.

Exceptions are to be made for attending meetings related to workplace violence and harassment complaints, for reporting imminent health and safety hazards or other situations involving a health and safety concern, and for dealing with other issues of an immediate and urgent nature.

Local representatives with grievance consultations set to take place should contact their Branch President for more information.

Normal communications between the union and the employer will resume once the ongoing bargaining dispute is resolved.

Acting assignments: A message from the CIU National President [updated]

Dear CIU members,

A core principle of the labour movement is that of solidarity in the face of adversity. The adage of ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ is truest at the zenith of bargaining, when union members are called upon to defend their rights against an employer keen to undermine the hard-won victories of past rounds and stifle our ability to build towards something better.

FB mobilization during the last round of bargaining, which culminated in our historic work-to-rule action on August 6, 2021, showed the employer how powerful we are when we act as one. Now, as our employer’s inaction at the bargaining table forces us toward another such moment, it is important we send a clear message to the employer: We did it once and can do it again.

The overwhelming strike mandate secured by FB members underscores that they are prepared to do what it takes for a fair contract. Despite the employer’s renewed efforts to suppress union actions, members continue to proudly support their bargaining team by wearing union swag and displaying messages of solidarity in the workplace. The last weeks have also seen branches across the country organize successful rallies and activities, drawing the public’s attention to our ongoing struggle.

Over the coming weeks, as we continue to ramp up the pressure, we need all members to do their part to ensure our collective success in the fight for a fair agreement.

One such way is for all FB members currently on a voluntary acting assignment in a managerial position to turn in this assignment and return to their substantive position effective June 7, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET, in the event a strike is declared should a deal not be reached.

Members who would choose to remain on a managerial acting assignment as we move closer to a potential strike would signal at best that they are satisfied reaping the rewards others have fought for. At worst, they would signal that they are content standing with management, complicit in the mistreatment of their fellow CIU members.

Let’s not mince words: This employer has shown time and again that it does not respect your rights as employees or as union members. It has bullied, harassed, and lied — and continues to do so — trying to prevent union members from exercising their legal rights. To stand with them is to reject the fundamental principles upon which our union is founded.

To those of you currently on a managerial acting assignment, I urge you to do what’s right should a strike be called, come back to your substantive position within the bargaining unit, and stand with your fellow union members. Be on the right side of what will undoubtedly be another success for all CIU members.

In solidarity,

Mark Weber
CIU National President