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Government announces historic anti-scab legislation

The federal government’s move this week to ban the use of replacement workers is an historic moment for labour in Canada. PSAC has long fought for protections against the use of scab workers during strikes.

The government has announced the start of a consultation process to develop legislation to ban the use of scabs (replacement workers) in federally regulated workplaces. The process includes an open consultation until December 16, with the expected introduction of legislation by early 2023.

PSAC looks forward to participating in this consultation process to strengthen the collective bargaining rights of PSAC members. We will work to ensure that legislation includes:

  • No loopholes. When unionized workers are on strike or locked out, no one will be able to perform their work – not new or temporary hires, not management, not workers in other bargaining units, students or other workers. The work stops…full stop;
  • Provisions to levy hefty financial penalties for employers that violate the new rules. Employers need to feel the pinch to deter them from hiring scab labour;
  • Rules that prevent employers from trying to contract out, transfer or discontinue work once the bargaining process begins, in anticipation of a strike or lock-out; and,
  • Quick and clear legal avenues to pursue complaints when employers break the rules.

We know that free and fair collective bargaining – without the threat of scabs taking workers’ jobs or imposing back-to-work legislation – is the best avenue to reach good agreements and stable workplaces. The use of scabs pits working people against each other and takes advantage of non-unionized workers who are desperate for work.

We look forward to meaningful consultation and progressive, robust legislation that protects the rights of workers.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PA group: No movement on wages, key issues after mediation

Following a week of mediation, the federal government is refusing to budge on its wage offer that would effectively deliver a pay cut to nearly 95,000 federal public service workers in the PA group facing record high inflation.

Their revised wage offer was initially proposed during Common Issues mediation in September and would average 2.06% per year over a four-year agreement. Treasury Board held fast to this wage offer during mediation October 4-7.

Our team made it clear that’s not good enough, and PSAC members expect this government to come to the table with a fair contract that protects workers’ buying power.

The government is also still demanding concessions, and made no move to resolve key issues for PA Group members, including group-specific allowances, improvements to call centre working conditions, wage adjustments, or an allowance to compensate employees who use Indigenous languages in the workplace.

Treasury Board seems intent on delaying negotiations and dragging their feet on our most important issues, setting back our members who have been without a new contract since June 2021. In response, PSAC has launched both in-person and online strike training for our more than 165,000 federal public service members to ratchet up the pressure on the government to bargain fairly.

PSAC will now raise these issues at Public Interest Commission hearings, to be scheduled this fall by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board. Meanwhile, dates have been set for mediation for the SV, TC and EB groups:

  • SV: October 11-14
  • TC: October 18-21
  • EB: October 25-27

If an agreement cannot be reached during the Public Interest Commission process, PSAC members should be prepared to continue escalating our actions, up to and including taking strike action if necessary to reach a fair contract.

Stay informed and engaged

Getting involved and taking action are key as we push for a fair contract. Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action:

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest bargaining updates.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

TB bargaining: Ramp up the pressure by taking strike training

Icone discussion PSAC-AFPC

While PSAC attends mediation with Treasury Board and prepares to make our case at the Public Interest Commission hearings this fall, we’re escalating our pressure on the government by launching strike training for all members in the PA, SV, TC, and EB groups.

“We are preparing to fight for a fair contract if the government continues to ignore the plight of workers,” said PSAC National President Chris Aylward. “PSAC members across the country are taking strike training so that we’re ready for any possible outcome.”

As the cost of living remains at record highs for workers, Treasury Board has refused to meaningfully budge on a fair and reasonable wage offer that would prevent members from falling further behind. They’ve also dug in their heels and outright rejected our proposals on remote work and mandatory training on anti-oppression and discrimination.

Regional strike training preparation

Regional offices across the country are rolling out introductory strike training targeted at members working for Treasury Board. Contact your nearest PSAC regional office or visit your PSAC regional website for more information.

Training covers the collective bargaining process, key outstanding bargaining issues, the importance of mobilization on our bargaining power, the strike vote process, and more. The content is presented in various formats including a full day intensive training, a half-day overview, and a shorter introductory session. All general strike-related questions will be answered during the training.

Online strike training preparation

Education makes our union stronger. That’s why, in addition to in-person training, PSAC has developed an online strike preparation course that members can complete at their own pace.

The three-hour, self-led course will help Treasury Board members learn more about what strikes are, how they work, and where they fit in the bargaining process. Other topics covered include:

  • How strikes can make major gains for workers
  • PSAC strikes that our members won during the pandemic
  • The basic structure of strikes at PSAC
  • Strike logistics, including strike pay and essential services
  • What you can do right now to ensure we win

Enroll in online strike training today

When you finish the course, make sure to download your course certificate and tell your friends and colleagues about PSAC’s online education opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

PSAC has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about Treasury Board bargaining, mobilization, and strike votes.

This page will be updated as more information becomes available, so check back frequently.

Stay informed and engaged

Getting involved and taking action are key as we push for a fair contract. Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action:

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest bargaining updates.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

FB bargaining: Telework and contracting out top of mind for team

Banner-FB-Bannière
Banner-FB-Bannière

The FB bargaining team raised several priority issues for discussion — including telework, job protections, and being assigned to work hours in another location — when they met with Treasury Board and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) September 27-29 to continue talks for a new collective agreement. 

PSAC-CIU is calling for transparency and fairness around members’ access to telework with entrenched language in the collective agreement that would guarantee those rights. Telework is here to stay at CBSA and the agreement should reflect the new reality of work.

The team also called for an end to contracting out with a proposal that indicates only unionized members are authorized to do work for CBSA. The employer has already contracted out work done by our inland enforcement members, made dramatic changes at ports of entry, and exploited the use of student workers, putting Canadians’ safety at risk and resulting in worsening wait times.

Finally, the bargaining team discussed their proposal to ensure CBSA recognizes and respects the seniority of workers who request to permanently work shifts at different ports, including ports in other regions. As is too often the case, there is currently no transparency with this process. Workers need new protections as management has proven time and time again they can’t be trusted.

PSAC-CIU files complaint with labour board 

CBSA recently made unilateral changes to our members’ working conditions, including telework, contracting out FB duties, ArriveCAN, and designated paid holidays. PSAC-CIU didn’t agree to these changes and believes they’re illegal.

As a result, PSAC-CIU filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board against the employer for violating its obligation to maintain working conditions and bargain in good faith.

Next steps 

Wage proposals will be submitted at a future session once the employer provides payroll data. The team will return to the table in November.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Border Services: CIU National President urges federal government to address ‘severe deficit’ in personnel

Border crossing

On Tuesday September 27, 2022, the National President of the Customs and Immigration Union, Mark Weber, addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade for the second time this year as part of the Committee’s study on the potential impacts of the ArriveCAN application on certain Canadian sectors.

Speaking to the Committee, the CIU National President did not mince words: “What the failure of ArriveCAN shows us is that our government must continue to invest in people to best serve people and reconsider its pursuit of a one-size-fits-all technological panacea” Weber explained to Committee members, highlighting the urgent need for more officers.

“What I urge the government and the Agency to do now is to turn their attention to the severe deficit in personnel afflicting border services throughout the country. The reality is bleak: The Agency needs thousands more officers if it wishes to fulfill its mandate” told Weber to the Committee, adding that with current staffing levels, the Agency struggled to adequately curb the smuggling of dangerous goods, despite the sustained efforts of its officers.

A recording of the Committee proceedings can be viewed here.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: An opportunity for healing and reflection

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day of hope and healing for those impacted by the horrors of the residential school system, and who continue to be triggered and retraumatized through the ongoing confirmation of unmarked graves.

Communities across Canada have borne witness to the tragic confirmation of more than 1,100 unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools since May 2021. That number grows each month as the search for truth continues.

The history of Orange Shirt Day

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, was lobbied for by many Indigenous people, allies and organizations. Most notably, it was anchored around the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, who began sharing her Orange Shirt Day story in Williams Lake, B.C. in 2013.

PSAC continues to build trust with First Nations, Inuit and Métis members across the country and works to build more inclusive workplaces that reflect the unique lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. We rely on the knowledge and teachings of our National Indigenous Peoples Circle to learn about and incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the work we do as a union.

As we look to the past for truth, we must acknowledge that we made mistakes and we may continue to make mistakes. But it is how we move forward together along the path of reconciliation that will heal us all and allow us to move forward for generations to come.

How to mark the day

Indigenous communities call on all Canadians to better understand the harmful history and legacy of the residential school system and the inter-generational impacts it has had on Indigenous people. As allies, it’s time for us to listen and take action.

PSAC has also compiled additional resources to use on September 30 and after to learn, reflect, and consider how you can take meaningful action on reconciliation. 

The star quilt graphic was designed by Georgina Metzler, an Anishinaabe artist and graphic designer who lives in Calgary, Alberta. Learn more about the artist and the meaning behind the work. 

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Common issues: Facing record inflation, government’s latest wage offer still sets workers back

After two weeks of mediation at the Common Issues table, the federal government put forward a revised wage offer on the last day of talks that would still see more than 120,000 federal public service workers take what amounts to a significant pay cut in the face of record high inflation.

Mediation took place September 12-14 and 20-23 between PSAC’s Common Issues bargaining team and Treasury Board.

The revised offer of 1.5%, 3.0%, 2.0%, and 1.75% — averaging 2.06% per year over a four-year agreement — still falls well short of inflation and shows the government still has no real mandate to negotiate a reasonable contract with our members. The original offer of 1.5%, 2%, 1.75%, and 1.5% — averaging 1.7% per year — led PSAC to declare impasse in May.

As the cost of living continues to soar, PSAC members expect Treasury Board to come to the table with a fair contract that will protect workers’ buying power and prevent them from falling further behind. But this latest wage offer is just disrespectful and proves Treasury Board isn’t taking this seriously.

Treasury Board also dug in their heels and refused to meaningfully budge on any of the other key issues that matter most to members, including contracting out and better job security, equity in the workplace, and more work-life balance.

PSAC will now bring those issues to the forefront at Public Interest Commission hearings, to be scheduled this fall by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board.

Meanwhile, dates have been set for mediation for the PA, SV, TC and EB groups.

  • PA: October 4-7
  • SV: October 11-14
  • TC: October 18-21
  • ​EB: October 25-27

If an agreement with the government following the Public Interest Commission process can’t be reached, PSAC members should be prepared to escalate their actions, up to and including taking strike action if necessary to reach a fair contract.

Stay informed and engaged

Getting involved and taking action are key as we push for a fair contract. Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and be ready to take action:

Keep your contact information up to date to receive all the latest bargaining updates.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

45th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service

Illustration depicting peace officers

On Sunday, September 25, 2022, as part of the 45th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, representatives of the Customs and Immigration Union were honoured and humbled to be back on Parliament Hill to attend the service and pay respect to the brave officers who lost their lives in the exercise of their duties.

This year’s service honoured the lives of RCMP Constable Alan Poapst, RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, Ontario Provincial Police Constable Marc Hovingh, Calgary Police Sergeant Andrew Harnett, RCMP Constable Shelby Patton, and Toronto Police Constable Jeffrey Northrup, along with two historical admissions — Surrey Police Constable George McDonald and RCMP Superintendent Dennis Massey.

To commemorate this important day, the Canadian flag was also lowered at half-mast at the CIU National Office, in Ottawa.

Amongst CIU members attending the Service in Ottawa on Sunday were (from left to right): Alana Baarschers, Leanne Hughes, Lisa Morgan, Andrew Wiersema, Gus Kontogianis, Carl Coupal, Mark West, Rick Savage, Brea Baresinkoff, Derek Brackley, CIU National President Mark Weber, Bonnee Shapter, Marjorie Gavel, Philippe Piette, and Fany Parent (photo: Danielle Dubuc).

CIU funds top-up strike pay for its PA, SV, TC and EB members

At its September 2022 meeting, in Ottawa, the CIU National Board of Directors passed a motion to establish an additional strike fund to better support CIU PA, SV, TC and EB members during this current round of bargaining.

The fund would allow CIU members in good standing who are part of these groups, and who participate in strike activities, to access an additional $50 per strike day, on top of the existing $75/day provided by the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

This is similar to the additional strike pay that the 2021 CIU Triennial Convention had created for FB members for that table’s previous round of bargaining.

This decision by the CIU National Board of Directors comes as PA, SV, TC and EB members await the result of a Public Interest Commission, which could set the stage for possible strike action.

The CIU Board of Directors is hopeful that, should strike actions prove necessary, this display of solidarity across tables will help ensure that the membership is successful, that Treasury Board bargaining groups have the resources they need to win the fight for a fair agreement, and that the employer knows we’re ready to fight as one.

For any questions regarding this top-up strike pay, please contact your Branch President.

Hurricane Fiona: CIU to make a $10,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross

Photo of CIU flag

On September 24, 2022, in light of the severe impact of hurricane Fiona on communities throughout the Atlantic region and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the CIU National Board of Directors voted to make a $10,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross. Members of the Board hope that this contribution will be of some help to those facing hardships and challenges in the wake of the hurricane.[:fr]Le 24 septembre 2022, à la lumière des graves répercussions de l’ouragan Fiona sur les communautés de la région de l’Atlantique et du golfe du Saint-Laurent, le Bureau national de direction du SDI a voté en faveur d’un don de 10 000 $ à la Croix-Rouge canadienne. Les membres du Bureau national de direction espèrent que cette contribution viendra aider celles et ceux qui font face à des difficultés et à des défis suite à l’ouragan.

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