PSAC received the Public Interest Commission’s report May 29 with their non-binding recommendations for reaching a new collective agreement. The report follows the overwhelming strike mandate by more than 9,000 FB members announced earlier this month. With the release of the report, the FB group will now be in a legal strike position as early as Thursday, June 6.

• Read the full PIC report.

The report notes that the employer did not agree that there were any recruitment or retention challenges at CBSA, while also noting that the agency admitted to struggling to efficiently deliver services due to “out-of-date and anachronistic collective agreement rules”. The bargaining team will continue to push for changes to the collective agreement that improve the workplace and push back against concessions the employer wrongly believes will solve workplace issues.

The report recommended that the parties meet and resume collective bargaining immediately.

The FB bargaining team and the employer have agreed to return to the bargaining table to resume talks at mediated sessions starting on Monday, June 3. Our bargaining team is hopeful that Treasury Board and CBSA will return to the bargaining table with a renewed mandate to reach a fair agreement for members.

Be sure to 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 originally posted on the PSAC website.

As strike action looms for more than 9,000 FB members at CBSA, take action to push for equitable retirement benefits for law enforcement personnel at CBSA in line with other law enforcement and public safety officers across Canada.

Almost all law enforcement and public safety workers receive “25 and out” early retirement benefits — the possibility of early retirement after 25 years of service without penalty. This includes most provincial and municipal firefighters, air traffic controllers, RCMP constables, operational employees of the Correctional Service of Canada, and more.

All FB personnel deserve access to the same retirement provisions, and have long called for the same benefits.

CBSA personnel work in stressful and physically challenging roles and face similar physical demands and risks as other law enforcement officers, yet are not afforded the same retirement benefits as their counterparts.

Maintaining the physical standards that come with these jobs becomes increasingly difficult with age. Currently, many older employees are given limited duties as they near retirement, as firearm and use of force certification become more difficult.

Without the prospect of fair retirement benefits, it can be challenging for CBSA to attract and retain talented workers at a time when the agency is already short-staffed.

After pressure from PSAC and the Customs and Immigration Union during the last round of bargaining in 2021, Treasury Board has acknowledged this inequality, reiterating their long-held position that this issue could not be solved at the bargaining table. Now, in 2024, they’ve once again made it clear in their Public Interest Commission submission that the issue should be resolved through legislative amendments – not at the table.

If that’s the case, then why did Treasury Board President Anita Anand tell the House of Commons on April 30 that equitable retirement for members of the FB group was something to be left to the Public Interest Commission to resolve? Why did she tell the House of Commons that all agreements, including this one, are best reached at the table?

Let’s be clear: through her April 30 statement, Anita Anand either willfully misled Parliament, or unwittingly revealed that she’s been badly advised by her Treasury Board bargaining team. Either way, this sends a strong signal to PSAC members that the Trudeau Liberal government is no friend of labour.

Anand and the Liberal government can make this right and propose the necessary legislative changes that would enable CBSA law enforcement personel to access the same early retirement benefits as their counterparts, allowing them to retire with dignity after 25 years of service without facing any penalties.

FB group members have an overwhelming strike mandate and are prepared to take job action to reach a fair collective agreement. Anita Anand doesn’t have to wait. By taking action on equitable retirement now, she has the ability to show leadership on the issue and resolve a key workplace issue for FB members.

This article was originally posted on the PSAC website.

The ballots have been counted, and you’ve given our union an overwhelming strike mandate to take job action and show this employer we mean business.

This comes as no surprise. You’ve been without a collective agreement since 2022. Your wages have stalled, and the cost-of-living has risen, yet the Canada Border Services Agency and Treasury Board still aren’t prepared to negotiate a fair agreement, and continue to demand concessions at the bargaining table.

You’ve shown your resolve, and your employer is now fully aware that you’re prepared to do whatever it takes to fight for a fair collective agreement that secures fair wages in line with other law enforcement and public safety workers across the country, flexible telework options, stronger job security, protections against contracting out, and equitable 25-and-out retirement benefits.

Taking job action is always a last resort, but the results of the vote – 96% in favour – show that you’re prepared to take action to demand a fair contract.

Together, we have a lot of power. Our strike in 2021 brought commercial cross-border traffic nearly to a standstill, causing chaos at ports of entry across the country.

Unless they want to see that happen again, Treasury Board and CBSA better be prepared to come to the table with an offer that addresses our key issues.

Our FB bargaining team is committed to reaching a fair contract that protects our members and makes CBSA a better place to work. We have made it clear to the Trudeau Liberal government that our negotiations must be a top priority, and the window to avert a strike is closing quickly.

Mediation sessions are scheduled to begin on June 3, and we expect the Public Interest Commission report to be released shortly before that. We will be in a legal strike position seven days after the report is released – meaning we should be prepared to take job action in June if a deal isn’t reached.

Contact your Branch President or PSAC regional office to find out how you can join mobilization activities to keep the pressure up on the employer and this government.

Please make sure you keep your contact information up to date and watch for more information as we move forward.

Together we can – and we will – win the fair collective agreement that you deserve.

Always in solidarity,

Chris Aylward
PSAC national president

Mark Weber
Customs and Immigration Union national president

This article was originally posted on the PSAC website

More than 9,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada working for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have secured an overwhelming strike mandate which could lead to significant disruptions to the flow of goods, services and people at Canadian ports of entry a as the busy summer season approaches.

Members voted 96% in favour of taking job action during strike votes held April 10 to May 23, 2024.

“Taking job action is always a last resort, but this strong strike mandate underscores that our members are prepared do what it takes to secure a fair contract,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National President. “Unless they want a repeat of 2021, Treasury Board and CBSA must be prepared to come to the table with a fair offer that addresses our key issues.”

Job action by CBSA personnel in 2021 nearly brought commercial cross-border traffic to a standstill, causing major delays at airports and borders across the country and a marathon 36-hour bargaining session to reach an agreement.

PSAC-Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) members at CBSA include border services officers at airports, land entry points, marine ports, and commercial ports of entry, inland enforcement officers, intelligence officers, investigators, trade officers, and non-uniformed headquarters staff.

Workers have been without a contract for over two years, yet Treasury Board and CBSA are still not prepared to negotiate an agreement that protects workers, and continue to demand concessions at the bargaining table.

Key issues in this round of bargaining include fair wages that are aligned with other law enforcement agencies across the country, flexible telework and remote work options, equitable retirement benefits and stronger protections around discipline, technological change and hours of work.

“Our members’ response to this vote has been unprecedented – we extended the voting period to meet the overwhelming demand from workers,” said Mark Weber, CIU National President. “We’re sending a clear message to the employer: we’re prepared to fight for fair wages, equitable retirement and to make CBSA a better place to work.”

Possible strike action in June

Both parties last met at a Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearing April 22. The Commission’s report is expected to be released before mediation sessions scheduled to begin June 3 to seek a resolution to the bargaining impasse. PSAC-CIU will be in a legal strike position following the release of the report.

“We’re committed to reaching a fair contract that protects workers and improves working conditions for our members,” said Aylward. “As summer travel season nears, we hope the Trudeau Liberal government is making these negotiations a top priority. The window to avert a strike is closing quickly.”

CBSA personnel deserve fair wages that are aligned with other law enforcement agencies across the country and an equitable retirement regime.

This article was originally posted on the PSAC website.