This week, national political party leaders have made concerning statements about disciplining or terminating federal public service workers who choose not to be vaccinated as part of the government’s vaccine mandate proposal.
PSAC supports vaccination requirements for federal workers to ensure the safety of our members in their workplaces, and to protect our communities, but using discipline and termination to enforce them is unacceptable.
PSAC has been in in consultation with the federal government on their vaccination proposal, and our position is clear: employees with a valid medical reason for being unvaccinated, or for reasons protected by human rights legislation, must be offered a formal accommodation under the law.
In addition, if there are workers who are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated, the government must temporarily reassign those employees to other duties where possible, or allow for alternate work arrangements such as remote work.
Where required, other measures should be explored, including regular screening and rapid testing.
PSAC will continue to play an active role in consultations as the federal government develops its vaccination requirements plan. We will do our utmost to ensure the safety our members while protecting their rights in the workplace – including their right to privacy.
This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.
The names of candidates running in the different Branch elections across the country are displayed below, sorted per Branch, along with the results.
For more information on the electoral process, and to review elections documents and forms, see the following page.
Information about the status of the elections is displayed in the following format:
| BRANCHES | POSITIONS & CANDIDATES | STATUS/RESULTS |
| Branch number and name | ||
| Branch President | ||
| Candidate #1 | – | |
| Candidate #2 | Elected | |
| 1st VP | ||
| Candidate #1 | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| Candidate #1 | Election ongoing | |
| Candidate #2 | Election ongoing | |
| BRANCHES | POSITIONS & CANDIDATES | STATUS/RESULTS |
| 90001 Newfoundland & Labrador | ||
| Branch President | ||
| ROSS, Jon | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| SHAPTER, Bonita | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| FLEMING, Michael | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| COLLINS, Bart | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| CLIFT, Sarah | Acclaimed | |
| 80002 Nova Scotia | ||
| Branch President | ||
| BRACKLEY, Derek | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| DOUCETTE, Jeffrey | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| MCNEIL, Jason | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| MACKENZIE, Ryan | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| CROUCHER, Steffan | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| FERGUSON, Timothy | Acclaimed | |
| 60004 New Brunswick | ||
| Branch President | ||
| DUNPHY, Joey | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| GAVEL, Marjorie | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| LEBEL, Stephane | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| LANGILE, Chris | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| HALL, Ryan | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| LAFOREST, Marc | Acclaimed | |
| 10010 Québec | ||
| Branch President | ||
| LANDRY, Mathieu | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| CAMPAGNA, Jonathan | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| PILOTE, David | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| POMERLEAU, Guillaume | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| GOUIN, Mathieu | Acclaimed | |
| Chief Steward | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| 10008 Eastern Townships | ||
| Branch President | ||
| POULIN, Julie | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| LALIBERTÉ, Adam | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| ROSS, Jean-François | Acclaimed | |
| Secretary | ||
| PARENT, Fany | Acclaimed | |
| Withdrew | ||
| Treasurer | ||
| SÉNÉCAL, Jean-Bertrand | Acclaimed | |
| 10011 Lacolle | ||
| Branch President | ||
| PIETTE, Philippe | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| BOURGAULT, Alain | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| GANGAI, Christopher | Acclaimed | |
| 4th VP | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| 10007 Montréal | ||
| Branch President | ||
| MOREAU, Luc | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| MARTIN, Sophie | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| LAFRANCE, Pierre-Hughes | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| DESCHAMPS, Émilie | Acclaimed | |
| 70066 HQ | ||
| Branch President | ||
| KHOURY, Charles | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| RAJOTTE, Chantal | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| WHITE, Joanie | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| LEGARE-KENNIPHAAS | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| ROCHON, Annie | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| VAILLANT-BOURQUE, Jean-Emmanuel | Acclaimed | |
| 70027 Eastern Ontario | ||
| Branch President | ||
| MATEJKA, Todd | Elected | |
| SWEENEY, Kimberly | – | |
| 1st VP | ||
| BLAISE, Stephane | Elected | |
| DECAYETTE, Stanley | – | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| REYNOLDS, Garnett | – | |
| VALOIS, James | Elected | |
| VP Finance | ||
| F |
Withdrew | |
| MENEZES, Roberto | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| MADORE, Michelle | Acclaimed | |
| 00024 Toronto | ||
| President | ||
| BAROUTOGLOU, Frances | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| SINGH, Navinder | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| DONOHUE, Brian | Elected | |
| WARFORD, Preston | – | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| BATEMAN, Brad | Elected | |
| LUNT, Alyn | – | |
| VP Finance | ||
| O’HAGAN, Pamela | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| LYON, Victoria | Acclaimed | |
| Young Worker Representative | ||
| BELLIO, Erica | Acclaimed | |
| Human Rights Representative | ||
| MORGAN, Lisa | Acclaimed | |
| 00020 Hamilton | ||
| Branch President | ||
| SOUTHALL, Nicholas | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| ARMSTRONG, Kevin | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| MCMANUS, Paul | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| CARTER, Brent | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| GEORGE, David | Acclaimed | |
| 00016 Niagara Falls | ||
| Branch President | ||
| LELA, Nick | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| SBRIZZI, Bianca | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| BYNKOSKI, Jordan | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| BALLANGER, Brett | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| SMITH, Jordan | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| DI GIACINTO, David | Acclaimed | |
| 00023 Fort Erie | ||
| Branch President | ||
| KONTOGIANIS, Gus | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| VP Finance | ||
| ONEIL, Jesse | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| SCHULTZ, Diane | Acclaimed | |
| 00019 Sarnia | ||
| Branch President | ||
| BAARSCHERS, Alana | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| BASSETT, Kas | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| SCOTT, Deb | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| PAUL, Shane | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| FADER, Michelle | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| THERIAULT, Jasmine | Acclaimed | |
| 00017 London / Kitchener | ||
| Branch President | ||
| SAUNDERSON, Stewart | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| BAUER, Christina | Acclaimed | |
| 00018 Windsor | ||
| Branch President | ||
| HOWE, Alissa | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| HOFFMAN, Alex | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| DENT, James | – | |
| VIPOND, Jason | Elected | |
| VP Finance | ||
| GROSSO, Paola | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| MARIER, Jennifer | Acclaimed | |
| 00026 Northern Ontario | ||
| Branch President | ||
| WIERSEMA, Andrew | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| WALKER, Caroline | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| DEBRUSK, Scott | – | |
| LATIMER, Sean | Elected | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| STIENBURG, Nancy | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| VP Communications | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| 50030 Manitoba | ||
| Branch President | ||
| HUDSON, Kyle | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| WARREN, Taylor | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| BAIN, Nicole | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| GRANT, Jennifer | Acclaimed | |
| 4th VP | ||
| GARTNER, Joel | Acclaimed | |
| 40031 Saskatchewan | ||
| Branch President | ||
| BARESINKOFF, Brea | Elected | |
| MCCRIMMON, ERIC | – | |
| 1st VP | ||
| HOLLYOAKE, Glenn | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| HANKEWICH, Brent | Acclaimed | |
| VP Finance | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| VP Communications | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| Membership Chair | ||
| RUSHFELDT, Lorna | Acclaimed | |
| 30036 Alberta | ||
| Branch President | ||
| WEST, Mark | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| PFEIFER, Angela | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| FRASER, Mike | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| VP Finance | ||
| HOOPER, Stephanie | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| Young Worker Rep | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
| 20045 BC Southern | ||
| Branch President | ||
| PALMER, Keith | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| LAURIE, Martin | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| BOUTANG, Stephen | Acclaimed | |
| VP Okanagan & Kootenay | ||
| COWPER, Candice | Elected | |
| SONNTAG, Alice | – | |
| VP Finance and Communications | ||
| KERR, Kevin | Acclaimed | |
| 20040 Vancouver | ||
| Branch President | ||
| KNOBLAUCH, David | Elected | |
| TAJITSU, Dean | – | |
| 1st VP | ||
| JAAKOLA, Leila | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| GURAM, Harmel | Elected | |
| YIP, Alex | – | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| ESAU, Angie | Elected | |
| HENWOOD, John | – | |
| VP Finance | ||
| STEINHAUSER, Craig | Acclaimed | |
| VP Communications | ||
| MONK, Jacquie | Acclaimed | |
| 20042 BC Coastal | ||
| Branch President | ||
| HUGHES, Leanne | Acclaimed | |
| 1st VP | ||
| HUYNH, John | Acclaimed | |
| 2nd VP | ||
| SHOQUIST, Erik | Acclaimed | |
| 3rd VP | ||
| ***no candidate*** | Vacant | |
On August 13, the federal government announced it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all federal public service workers by early fall.
The government also expects that Crown corporations and other federally regulated employers will require vaccinations for their employees by the end of October.
As Canada enters a fourth wave of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for Canadians to do everything they can to protect each other and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Science has shown us that vaccinations – alongside other measures like masking and physical distancing – are the most effective ways to fight COVID-19 and keep each other safe.
PSAC supports measures to increase vaccination rates, including vaccination requirements for federal public service workers to protect our members, their colleagues, and our communities.
Governments and employers have an obligation to ensure our workplaces are safe for public service workers and Canadians everywhere.
Although we support the goals of the government’s proposal, it’s critical that any eventual plan put forward by the government that would collect or verify the vaccination or medical status of our members respects their legal right to privacy. The government must also provide accommodations for workers who cannot be vaccinated for reasons protected under human rights legislation.
We expect the government to continue consulting with unions on the implementation of their vaccination requirements to safeguard our members’ right to privacy and ensure that their human rights are respected.
This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.
The FB bargaining team secured a tentative agreement with CBSA and Treasury Board August 6 that makes CBSA a better, safer place to work. The agreement was possible because of the dedication and perseverance of the FB bargaining team and members across the country who took work-to-rule action to send a clear message to the government.
Now that we have a tentative agreement, there are a few more steps to take before the new collective agreement can take effect.
A full explanation of the new agreement, and a copy of the new language, is currently being finalized and will be distributed to members shortly.
PSAC-CIU’s bargaining team unanimously recommends ratification of the new agreement.
PSAC-CIU will provide short, 10-minute mandatory virtual presentations to go through the details of the new tentative agreement, followed by an opportunity for FB members to ask questions. After the presentation, members will be able to cast their ballot.
The PSAC Constitution requires all members attend an information session before they vote for a new collective agreement.
The meeting schedule is being organized and will be announced in the next few weeks. Meetings will be held virtually and offered in both official languages.
If you have any questions, please contact your branch president or your PSAC regional office.
This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.
A message to the membership from the new CIU National President, Mark Weber.
Sisters and Brothers,
As your new National President, my first few weeks have been almost exclusively dedicated to supporting the efforts of our bargaining team. I had the pleasure of attending rallies in Windsor, Fort Erie, Lansdowne, Cornwall, Prescott and Toronto. Never have I seen greater solidarity than what you’ve shown these past few weeks. Whether attending demos, wearing your swag, volunteering, or contacting your MPs, you made it clear to our employer that we will no longer be disrespected.
Our August 6 Work to Rule campaign was a watershed moment for our great Union. Across the country, members came together and showed how powerful we really are when we act as one. Without you, we would not now have a tentative agreement to vote on. You’ve made this happen and I am so proud to represent you. The actions you took on August 6 will not be forgotten. With the next round of bargaining just around the corner, the employer will never again question our ability to mobilize.
I hope you will join me in offering my thanks to our bargaining team. They worked for years to get this agreement and, in the end, made gains that CIU had been seeking for a long time.
You will get more details about the tentative agreement in the coming weeks and will have an opportunity to ask questions of the bargaining team at your ratification meetings.
Thank you all for the amazing display of solidarity, and never forget what we accomplished together on August 6.
In solidarity,
Mark Weber
National President
Customs and Immigration Union
After an intense final round of negotiations that lasted more than 36 hours, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) late Friday, August 6.
“We are relieved that CBSA and the government finally stepped up to address the most important issues for our members to avoid a prolonged labour dispute,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC national president. “The agreement is a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication of our bargaining team who worked through the night to reach a deal.”
“We also couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support of our members, who put intense pressure on the government at every airport and border crossing across the country today.”
The agreement means an immediate end to work-to-rule strike action that had begun Friday, August 6 and ensures the flow of border traffic will return to normal as the government prepares to welcome fully vaccinated U.S. travellers on Monday, August 9.
“CBSA employees have been on the front lines of the pandemic since day one, protecting our borders and keeping Canadians safe. But they weren’t receiving the support they needed from the government,” said Mark Weber, CIU national president. “Finally – after three years of negotiations – we’ve resolved longstanding issues that will go a long way towards making CBSA a better, safer place to work for our members.”
Negotiations between PSAC-CIU and CBSA began in January 2019 but reached an impasse in December 2020. In May 2021, the union presented arguments at Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearings and a PIC report was issued in July with non-binding recommendations. Following national strike votes throughout June and July, PSAC-CIU announced an overwhelming strike mandate at the end of July and issued an official strike notice on August 3. Work-to-rule action began across the country August 6 at 6 a.m. EDT.
Highlights of the tentative agreement include:
This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.
Travelers and commercial traffic entering Canada should expect long lineups and lengthy delays at border crossings and airports starting Friday, August 6 as nearly 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency employees begin job action across the country.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) served strike notice to the government Tuesday.
“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract with the government,” said Chris Aylward, Public Service Alliance of Canada national president. “Treasury Board and CBSA have been clear they aren’t prepared to address critical workplace issues at CBSA at the bargaining table.”
Sweeping work-to-rule strike activity will take place at all Canadian airports, land borders, commercial shipping ports, postal facilities and headquarters locations and could have a dramatic impact on Canada’s supply chain and the government’s plans to reopen the border to U.S. travellers on August 9.
“We’ve continued to serve Canadians throughout the pandemic – keeping our borders safe, screening travellers for COVID-19 and clearing vital vaccine shipments,” said Mark Weber, CIU national president. “Now it’s time for the government to step up for CBSA employees.”
Unionized employees with PSAC and the Customs and Immigration Union have been without a contract for over three years. They are seeking better protections against a toxic workplace culture at CBSA, and greater parity with other law enforcement agencies across Canada. The union declared impasse in December and applied for a Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearing after CBSA and Treasury Board were unwilling to address these core issues.
The Commission released its recommendations for both parties to reach a deal, including many improvements to the working conditions of CBSA employees. Read more about the PIC’s recommendations.
The two sides will return to the table on August 6, but work-to-rule action will begin at 6 a.m. EDT across the country if a new contract isn’t negotiated.
During work-to-rule strike action, CBSA employees will obey all of the policies, procedures and laws applying to their work, and perform their duties to ’the letter of the law’. This may cause long and unavoidable delays at Canada’s borders as workers carry out their jobs as they were trained to do.
This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.
