Three-day in person mandate: Have your say

7 May 2023

On May 1, 2024, with blatant disregard for the well-being of its workers, Treasury Board announced that by September 9, federal public service workers will be required to be in-office a minimum of three days per week.

Your experiences and perspectives are essential to shape the union’s strategy to fight back against the employer’s misguided and unilateral decision.

Take the survey

Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey. Your personal information will be kept confidential. The deadline for completing the survey is May 20, 2024.

Together, we can show the government that we’re prepared to take action.

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,
Chris Aylward

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Tentative agreement for Treasury Board units: A heartfelt thank you to all members

1 May 2023

In the early morning of May 1, 2023, on what would have been the 13^th day of strike for 120,000 Treasury Board members, PSAC announced that a tentative agreement had been reached for the PA, EB, TC and SV bargaining units, securing a fair contract for members and ending this round of strike action.

It goes without saying that this strike — the largest in the Canadian public sector in recent memory — owes much of its success to the sustained dedication and engagement of members everywhere. The union is only as strong as its members are united, and we thank you wholeheartedly for supporting your bargaining teams and showing the employer what can be accomplished when we fight as one.

Thank you to all striking members and activists who walked the picket line and rallied day in, day out, rain or shine. Thank you to all in essential positions who found ways to support strike efforts despite having to report to work. And, last but not least, thank you to all FB members who, regardless of not being on strike, showed up to shoulder their fellow union members in their hour of need, amplifying their call for fair treatment.

An exemplary display of inter-union and inter-unit solidarity, the past two weeks have proven to be yet another watershed moment for the Customs and Immigration Union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, and the labour movement at large, as we build upon past labour actions to reinforce our capacity to fight for — and win — better, fairer working conditions for all members.

We have never been more united. We have never been stronger.

Stay up to date

See the following link for more information about the tentative agreement. As per PSAC, in the coming days, a full explanation of the new agreements, and a copy of the new language, will be provided once they have been fully translated for the PA, SV, TC and EB groups. PSAC members will shortly thereafter be invited to participate in online ratification votes. Details about the votes will be shared as soon as possible.

Support CRA workers!

While the strike is over for Treasury Board members, it continues for 35,000 CRA members. We encourage all our members to show support — be it by attending a picket line outside of your work hours, or in any other way. No gesture is too small!

20th National Convention – September 21-23, 2023

28 April 2023

The National Convention, which is the supreme governing body of our Union, is held once every three years and provides an opportunity for CIU members to become involved in the operation and future of their Union.

We are pleased to announce that the 20^th CIU National Convention will be held September 21, 22, and 23, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Please refer to the following documents for more information:

Convention Call – CIU’s 20^th National Convention
20^th National Convention – Memo NO. 1
Convention Resolution Form
Deadline for resolution forms: May 21, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. For more information, see the convention call.
Please note: Convention Resolutions pertaining to collective bargaining must refer only to the procedure of bargaining and not actual bargaining demands. Bargaining demands are sought through a different forum and are referred, through the Component Collective Bargaining Committee, to the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Bargaining demands will not be dealt with at the CIU National Convention.

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

28 April 2023

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

28 April 2023

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

Continuer

National Day of Mourning — April 28

27 April 2023

photo of candle with the words 'national day of mourning'

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

27 April 2023

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:

Treasury Board strike, day 8: Mounting pressure at the border

26 April 2023

What a day! Newsworthy picket lines took place in both Fort Erie and Windsor. Striking PSAC members delayed four ships by picketing the lift bridge in Hamilton. Members and allies rallied in Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie, and took to Parliament Hill in Ottawa in great numbers. Perhaps most notable of all, a highly effective one person picket in Torquay, SK, managed to delay the opening of the local port of entry, proving that while there’s always strength in numbers, sometimes all it takes is a handful of people doing the right thing and holding the line.

All these events were possible thanks to the sustained involvement of both striking and non-striking members. Also worth noting is the continued presence of retired CIU activists at the forefront of many of these strike actions, as past and present members come together to tell the government once more that an affront to one is an affront to all.

See photos of the day, below:

Treasury Board strike day 7: A week of enduring solidarity

26 April 2023

As we near the end of the first week of strike at Treasury Board, striking PSAC members continue to report en masse to picket lines across the country — Windsor, Niagara, Fort Erie, Fredericton, Edmundston, St. Stephen, Woodstock, Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Gatineau, etc.

Beyond showing to the employer that the membership is truly energized and ready to continue fighting for a fair contract, the last week has also been an exemplary display of enduring solidarity between striking members and those supporting them however they can. From coast to coast, we’ve seen our FB members standing with and marching side by side with our other Treasury Board members — in places such as Edmonton, Windsor, Fort Frances, Ottawa, to only name a few.

Even if they can’t always join picket lines, CIU FB members have been finding different ways to support the strike. Earlier this week, FB members from Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge and Queenston Bridge provided lunch to support their fellow union members on the picket line. In St. John’s, CIU Branch 90001 sent pizza to picketers to give them a bit of a boost.

Adding to the influx of solidarity in the last week, the CIU National Office is also proud to report that two of its employees — Administrative Assistant Amanda Bird and Labour Relations Administrator Christiane Banke — have jumped at the opportunity to lend their skills to assist the PSAC strike efforts.

For the last couple of days, they’ve both been busy working on the picket lines and at headquarters in the National Capital Region, fielding questions, verifying membership information, and helping with picket line tasks.

Let’s keep this going!

Here are some photos of the day:

PSAC responds to Minister Fortier’s open letter to members

25 April 2023

It’s clear the Liberal government is feeling the pressure as we escalate our strike actions across the country. But we’ve been clear – the offer the government has on the table simply doesn’t cut it. And while we’ve had our sleeves rolled up for the past two years and have been ready to negotiate day and night to reach a fair deal, this government has consistently dragged out negotiations and tried to nickel and dime Canada’s workers.

Without a wage increase since the beginning of the pandemic, our members have fallen behind inflation to the tune of nearly 11% of their earnings. After losing more ground to runaway prices than workers in any other sector for years, the government is now saying Canada’s public service workers should be happy with an offer that leaves them even further behind.

And let’s not forget, these are the same members who delivered essential services to Canadians in a time of crisis. Imagine working every day and not having a contract, and because of Phoenix, not even knowing if you will be paid at all. These are regular Canadians who show up day in and day out to do the work that keeps our country running.

We came to the table with demands that reflect the need for significant change in our members’ workplaces. Workers deserve fair wages that keep up with rising costs, remote work to be spelled out in their contract and better job security. Those demands haven’t been met at the table, and we will continue to prioritize the needs of our members until we reach a fair deal.

The truth is, we don’t want a strike any more than our members; any more than Canadians; any more than this government. But we’ve been at the table for nearly two years. How long can workers wait?

We’re calling on the Liberal government to work with us on getting to a fair deal so that members can leave the picket lines behind and return to the work they’re proud to do.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.