At this year’s Eastern Townships Branch Annual General Membership Meeting, members discussed the ongoing bargaining situation and expressed their support for their FB Bargaining Team, voicing their discontent at not being treated fairly by the government.
On December 19, 2017, in front of the offices of the Canada Border Services Agency, in Regina, CIU & PSAC members rallied for fairness and in solidarity with all FB members. After 3.5 years of bargaining, the employer is still pushing for concessions that devalues the work our members perform on behalf of all Canadians, and continues to refuse to provide parity with other law enforcement agencies.
The demonstrators had a clear message for Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale: Enough is enough – it is time to treat FB members with respect.
Present at the rally were members and representatives of CIU SK 40031, PSAC Regina Area Council Committee, DCL 40005, USGE, UNE, and CEIU, including: Brea Lewis, Branch President of CIU Saskatchewan 40031 and FB bargaining team member, Marianne Hladun, Regional Executive Vice-President of the PSAC Prairie Region, and Santa Claus.
Click here to view a video of the rally (on Facebook)
On December 14, 2017, our members in B.C. rallied in solidarity near the Peace Arch border crossing and sent a clear message to the employer: FB members deserve fair treatment at the bargaining table. These women and men are law enforcement, protect our borders, and deserve a fair contract.
Present at the rally with the members were local and national union representatives, including Rick Savage, CIU 4th National VP.
In another display of solidarity, members of CIU/PSAC in Niagara Falls rallied today to express support for their FB bargaining team, and to tell the employer that FB members keep Canada’s borders safe, and deserve a fair treatment. They’re law enforcement, and a fair contract must acknowledge it.
Among the members were CIU 1st National VP Mark Weber, CIU Niagara Falls Branch President Chris Schuurman, and CIU Toronto Branch President Frances Baroutoglou.
CIU and PSAC members in New Brunswick demonstrated in Saint John on Monday December 11 in support of the CIU/PSAC campaign reminding Canadians that Border Officers and all FB members keep Canada’s borders safe, and deserve a fair contract and a fair treatment.
Demonstrating with the members were 3rd National VP Joey Dunphy and NB Branch President Tammy Firlotte.
On December 7, at their Branch’s first Annual General Membership Meeting, Windsor members expressed support for their bargaining team, with everyone wearing their orange shoelaces as a sign of solidarity with the team and FB members accross the country.
Following the last day of the Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearings, CIU members in Eastern Ontario (Branch 70027) demonstrated and handed out flyers in Cornwall to tell the employer that, as the country’s first line of defence, FB members (border services) are law enforcement officers – they deserve fair treatment and a fair contract. That’s why CIU and PSAC are advocating for parity with other law enforcement agencies for FB members.
Also demonstrating with the members were CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin, 2nd National Vice-President Chantal Rajotte, and Eastern Ontario Branch President Kim Poirier.
As per the Public Service Labour Relations Act, our FB Bargaining Team filed for conciliation earlier this year when it became clear that the employer was not prepared to seriously address our issues, including parity with other law enforcement agencies and matters related to hours of work such as protections for compressed work weeks, VSSAs and telework.
With the PIC mediation attempt having failed in October, we proceeded to hearing on November 2 and 6 at the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Employment Board (FPSLREB). On Thursday November 23 we wrapped up our hearing before the PIC. Over the course of these hearings our bargaining team made our case for compensation parity with other law enforcement agencies across Canada, including other federal agencies under the Ministry of Public Safety. We also made the case – repeatedly – that there are serious problems at CBSA and that in light of these, we seek new rights for employees particularly as they pertain to discipline, hours of work and arming.
On Thursday, Treasury Board/CBSA continued to push for concessions concerning hours of work, VSSA negotiations and leave provisions. The employer also continued to take the position that there are no recruitment or retention issues at CBSA. Again, we were crystal clear with the PIC that we do not agree, and we provided evidence demonstrating ongoing problems at CBSA.
Now that the hearings are over, we await a recommendation from the PIC. Unlike arbitration, the recommendation is non-binding. While the legislation provides for the PIC to issue its recommendation within 30 days of the hearing, the Chair may ask for an extension. Given the number of issues outstanding, there was some indication that the Chair may exercise this prerogative. We will be sure to update as things progress.
Congrats to those members who picketed the office of Finance Minister Bill Morneau in Toronto on November 23, to those who handed out flyers in Cornwall on November 24, and to those union members elsewhere in the country taking action in support of a fair contract. For more information on lobbying efforts and other activities, contact a member of our bargaining team, your CIU Branch President or go to psacunion.ca/employer/fb-group.
A version of this article was first published on the PSAC website.
On November 23, 2017, CIU and PSAC members rallied in front of federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s office, in Toronto, to tell the government that FB members deserve to be treated fairly. Among the members present were CIU 1st VP Mark Weber, Toronto Branch President Frances Baroutoglou, and PSAC Ontario Regional Exec VP Sharon DeSousa.
The FB Group is composed of more than 8,000 members working for the Canadian Border Services. These members, who have been without a contract since June 2014, protect Canada’s borders. They are law enforcement, and they deserve a fair contract!
This week, our PSAC/CIU bargaining team for the FB group will participate in the final hearing date of the Public Interest Commission (PIC) process at the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Employment Board (FPSLREB). In negotiations and in our PIC hearing last week, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) continued to push for concessions.
Some of these include:
Our union and our bargaining team have made it clear that we are not interested in concessions. Our position with CBSA and Treasury Board is that we are looking for improvements, not steps backwards. PSAC has successfully defended our sick leave. Our team has every intention of defending our other hard-fought contract rights.
We’ll be sure to provide updates as things progress. If you have questions be sure to follow up with your CIU Branch President.
A version of this article was first published on the PSAC website.
