Category Archives: bargaining

Government ratifies collective agreement for 9,000 PSAC members working at CBSA

bargaining-FB-négos

The federal government has ratified the collective agreement for FB group members working at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The agreement will be signed by both parties in the coming days.

After a nationwide ratification vote, the agreement was ratified by PSAC members on July 4, 2024.

The four-year agreement expires June 2026 and includes a wage increase that exceeds recent increases to other Canadian law enforcement agencies, enhanced protections relative to technological changes, and better provisions for shift scheduling and leave.

Next steps

Once signed, all non-monetary terms of the collective agreement will take effect immediately.

The employer has 180 days from the signing of the contract to implement wage increases, wage adjustments and allowances. If the implementation period goes beyond 180 days and when the outstanding amount owed is greater than $500, the employer will pay a $200 lump sum per member.

PSAC will update FB group members when the agreement is signed. Please contact your regional office to make sure your contact information is up to date.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Register now for TB town halls to learn how to submit bargaining demands

As preparations continue for the next round of Treasury Board bargaining, PSAC will host a series of national virtual town halls to provide guidance for members on how to draft effective bargaining demands.

The town halls will build on the momentum from our historic 2023 national strike and empower members to get involved in the bargaining process early.

Registration is open to all members of the Program and Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operational Services (SV), and Education and Library Science (EB) Treasury Board bargaining groups.

Register now

English with French interpretation: 

  • Tuesday, July 23, 6 p.m. ET
  • Monday, July 29, 9 p.m. ET
  • Monday, September 23, 6 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, September 24, 7 p.m. ET

French with English interpretation: 

  • Thursday, July 25, 7 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, October 16, 9 p.m. ET

Learn more about the bargaining process and what makes a strong bargaining demand, so you’re better prepared to discuss bargaining priorities with your colleagues and within your local. Each session will include a 30-minute presentation, followed by a Q&A session.

This is your chance to shape negotiations for the next round. Your input will help prioritize the issues that matter most at the Treasury Board bargaining conference in February 2025.

The deadline to submit your bargaining proposals is November 15, 2024.

Register now

Your component will review all proposals from their respective members ahead of the PSAC bargaining conference in February 2025 where delegates from locals across the country will choose priorities for negotiations.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Workers at Canada Border Services Agency ratify tentative agreement for more than 9,000 workers

bargaining-FB-négos

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) members working at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying their tentative agreement, with 91% of ballots cast in favour of the new contract. A nationwide ratification vote took place June 20 through July 4.

Over 9,000 workers at the CBSA won a wage increase that exceeds recent increases to other Canadian law enforcement agencies, enhanced protections relative to technological changes, and better provisions for shift scheduling and leave.

The four-year collective agreement expires on June 20, 2026.

“Today, we celebrate our members who showed unwavering commitment and solidarity to reach the best possible contract for workers,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “This is a well-deserved victory for our members at CBSA who safeguard our nation’s borders and ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”

“I’m proud of the solidarity our members have shown over that past two years of negotiations,” said Mark Weber, CIU National President. “We would not have achieved this agreement without the strength and support shown by thousands of members across the country who took action to support our bargaining team.”

Next Steps 

In the coming weeks, PSAC will meet with Treasury Board and CBSA representatives to sign the new contract. All non-monetary terms of the collective agreement will come into effect immediately after signing.

Treasury Board and CBSA have 180 days from the date of signing the new collective agreement to raise the pay according to the new rates and provide retroactive pay for the time elapsed since the expiry of the previous contract.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

FB Ratification votes to be held June 20 to July 4

bargaining-FB-négos

Ratification votes for PSAC-CIU members working at the Canada Border Services Agency will begin June 20 and end July 4 at 12 p.m. ET.

In order for FB members to receive their new rates of pay, retroactive pay, and lump sum payment, the new agreement must first be ratified. To ensure this ratification process is done as quickly as possible, PSAC will be conducting an online ratification process.

The ratification vote will be conducted using the same online voting platform used for strike votes earlier this year.

How to vote

PSAC will be holding mandatory virtual information sessions, and you can vote at any time after attending a session up until the voting deadline July 4 at 12 p.m. ET.

Ensure you are a Member in Good Standing. If you are on an extended leave (parental, disability, etc.), you can request to maintain good status while on leave prior to the vote.

Check your email: All FB group members will have received an email from communications@psac-afpc.vote on June 14 with the link to PSAC’s voting platform and the credentials needed to log in. If we only have your home address on file, your voting credentials will have been mailed to you.

If you did not receive an email on June 14, check your junk mail or other folders in your personal email account. If you’ve checked those folders and still don’t have the email, or if we don’t have your personal email on file, you can fill out a PSAC membership form to update your contact information.

Once you submit the online membership form, PSAC will issue your voting credentials to you as soon as possible.

Participate in a mandatory information session: Upon receipt of your login credentials, please proceed to register for voting sessions using the online voting platform link.

Submit your vote: Once you attend a mandatory information session, you will then be provided with a link to vote. Following the information session, you can vote immediately or stay on to participate in a live Q&A session with members of the FB bargaining team.

Vote session dates and times

Register for one of the following mandatory information sessions:

Sessions in English

  • Thursday, June 20, 7:30 p.m. ET in English
  • Friday, June 21, 2:00 p.m. ET in English
  • Sunday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. ET in English
  • Monday, June 24, 10:00 p.m. ET in English
  • Tuesday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. ET in English
  • Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. ET in English
  • Thursday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. ET in English
  • Friday, June 28, 10:00 a.m. ET in English
  • Tuesday, July 2, 5:00 p.m. ET in English
  • Wednesday, July 3, 10:00 p.m. ET in English

Sessions in French

  • Friday, June 21, 9:00 a.m. ET in French
  • Tuesday, June 25 5:00 p.m. ET in French
  • Wednesday, June 26, 8:00 p.m. ET in French
  • Friday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. ET in French
  • Tuesday, July 2, 9:30 a.m. ET in French

Register here

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

FB ratification kit now available: A message from the CIU National President

2024 Bargaining Team Équipe de négos

On June 11, 2024, the PSAC-CIU bargaining team for the FB group secured a tentative agreement for over 9,000 members at CBSA. This agreement represents the culmination of nearly two years of intense work at the bargaining table and brings to our members outstanding gains in several areas, notably on the wage front. The ratification kit is now available, and I invite all our members to see the full details of the tentative agreement.

The dedication of our FB bargaining team to obtaining the best deal for our members leaves the FB group in a markedly stronger position. The resulting tentative agreement is a resounding success for all our members, without whom this victory would not have been possible. Once again, it is through your support and solidarity that our team was able to secure the improvements you all so decidedly deserve.

Over the next few weeks, members will have the opportunity to attend ratification sessions and vote on the agreement. Further details will be announced in the coming days.

The FB bargaining team unanimously recommends ratification of the tentative agreement, and I could not be prouder of adding my voice to this recommendation. This tentative agreement is the latest in a long line of victories, illustrating once more what we as a union can accomplish together.

Thank you and in solidarity,

Mark Weber
CIU National President