2018 PA, SV, TC & EB Bargaining – Program of Demands & Input Call

30 June 2017

The collective agreements for the Program Administration (PA), Operational (SV), Technical (TC), and Education/Library Science (EB) bargaining units will expire between June and August 2018, and PSAC anticipates serving notice to bargain in early Summer of 2018 for each of them. In preparation for bargaining for the units mentioned above, PSAC will hold a National Bargaining Conference. which will take place from March 26 to 29, 2018, in Ottawa.

An input call for bargaining demands for PA, SV, TC, and EB Bargaining Units has also been issued. For more information on the Bargaining Conference and on how to submit Bargaining Demands, please carefully review the documents below:

CIU National Office Memorandum on the input call and on National Bargaining Conference recruitment for PA, SV,TC, and EB Bargaining Units
[Download PDF]
PSAC’s Program Of Demands and Input Call For Treasury Board Bargaining Units (PA, SV, TC, EB)
[Download PDF]
Proposal Form for Collective Bargaining
[Download Word Document]

Opioid Crisis: CIU and CBSA Working Together

21 June 2017

As front-line officers, Border Services Officers (BSOs) face potential threats on a daily basis. The ongoing opioid crisis, involving deadly substances such as fentanyl and carfentanil, is no different. This growing issue is affecting communities coast-to-coast and represents a major health and safety issue for BSOs who, as part of the country’s first line of defence, play a crucial role in detecting harmful substances before they enter Canada.

Following two recent opioid-related incidents in Montreal and Fort Erie, the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) is working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to review and create health and safety policies aimed at keeping our members safe.

“Being a BSO is a dangerous job,” said Jean-Pierre Fortin, CIU National President. “Protecting front-line officers is top priority – making sure that they have access to proper protective equipment in an environment where they are at risk of being in contact with harmful substances is one of the main reasons we exist as a union.”

President Fortin explained that both the union and the employer were looking at a wide range of solutions to complement existing ones. While BSOs already have some access to equipment such as gloves, face masks, and naloxone (a medication which acts quickly to counteract the effects of opioids), the union hopes that new, up-to-date protective measures will help officers continue to perform their much-needed yet dangerous duties in a safer work environment.

Three Years Without a Contract: FB Group to Take Message to Cabinet This Summer

20 June 2017

FB bargaining: 3 years without a contract

As of today, it’s been three years since our contract expired.

We have taken the government to court. We have taken the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB). Union members have picketed their workplaces – from Sarnia to Dorval Airport in Montreal, to PIA in Toronto, to downtown Vancouver. We have filed for a Public Interest Commission (PIC). Now is the time for us to take our message to MPs.

PSAC and CIU are organizing to take our message about the need for parity with other law enforcement agencies to cabinet ministers and other MPs this summer. Lobbying teams are being organized across the country. Other activities in support of our efforts to achieve a fair contract are also being organized.

CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin and PSAC National President Robyn Benson have met with the Minister of Public Safety and the President of Treasury Board. Now it’s time that MPs hear directly from union members in their constituencies about the challenges they face day in and day out as law enforcement personnel.

PSAC and CIU are also working together to further promote the work that we do to keep Canadians safe. These initiatives will also roll out over the course of the summer.

PIC dates have been confirmed

Our FB bargaining team broke off talks earlier this year after having made no progress in negotiations on our key priorities. Meanwhile, CBSA and Treasury Board continued to push for concessions.

Our Team proceeded to the next step in the process provided for under the law – filing for a Public Interest Commission (PIC). Get more information on the PIC process here. The PIC has now been established and the dates for our hearing are confirmed for October 17 & 18, and November 2, 6 & 23, 2017.

We will keep you update as things progress. Stay informed: Sign up for bargaining updates. Please contact your CIU Branch President with any questions.

Download the PDF of a previous version of this update (bilingual document).
A version of this article was also published on the PSAC website.

Senate Votes to Repeal Anti-Union Laws

16 June 2017

Two Conservative anti-union laws, Bills C-377 and C-525, are now history with the adoption of Bill C-4. “Both of these Conservative bills were an attack on working people,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “Canada’s labour movement mobilized fierce opposition to these laws. This victory is thanks to the vocal solidarity of union members and our allies.”

The bill reverses changes that were made to the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act.

Bill C-525 made it more difficult for workers in the federal sector to unionize. It also gave employers more opportunity to interfere in the process of establishing a union in the workplace.

Bill C-377 required unions to make public detailed financial information, unlike any other type of organization. Privacy commissioners called the bill a violation of privacy laws, while others described it as unconstitutional. While the law was in force, the Liberal government had waived the requirement for unions to file this information for 2016 and 2017.

A version of this article was also published on the PSAC website.

PSAC and Treasury Board Sign Collective Agreements for PA, EB, TC and SV Groups

15 June 2017

PA EB TC SV collective agreements signed

After much delay on the part of the employer, Treasury Board and PSAC have finally signed collective agreements for the PA, EB, TC and SV bargaining units on June 14, 2017. This is the result of significant pressure from PSAC.

These agreements, which cover over 85,000 workers in the federal public service, were ratified by the membership in April. Since then, PSAC had been pushing the employer to sign the agreements.

Letter sent to Trudeau; ULP complaint threatened

Last week, due to the excessive delay, PSAC National President Robyn Benson sent a letter to the Prime Minister. She expressed her disappointment and urged him to compel Treasury Board to set a date for signing.

PSAC also told Treasury Board that further delays would result in an unfair labour practice (ULP) complaint being filed with the labour board.

A version of this article was also published on the PSAC website.

Bill C-23: CIU Appears Before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security

31 May 2017

Image of the canadian parliament with the words Bill C23, Preclearance Act

On May 17, 2017, Brother Jean-Pierre Fortin, the CIU National President, appeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security regarding Bill C-23: An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States. The submission is available online [PDF document].

FB Bargaining: PSLREB Appoints PIC Chair

31 May 2017

Our PSAC/CIU bargaining team for the FB group broke off talks in February after spending three days in mediation with the employer and making no progress on our key priorities. CBSA also continued to push for concessions. Consequently, our Team proceeded to the next step in the process provided for under the law – filing for a Public Interest Commission (PIC). Get more information on the PIC here.

The Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) contacted the PSAC in April to notify us that the PIC is going forward despite Treasury Board/CBSA asking that the process be delayed by further mediation. Both our union and the Treasury Board have appointed our respective nominees for the Commission. However, once our nominees were appointed we were unable to agree with Treasury Board/CBSA on a Chair of the PIC. As a result, the PSLREB has now appointed one.

The next step is the setting of a hearing date. There are no timelines prescribed in the legislation in terms of getting the PIC set up and for the selection of a date for the hearing. It is up to the PSLREB.

In the meantime, the CIU National Executive and our Bargaining Team continue to consult Branch Presidents across the country in order to identify mobilization activities that will push the Treasury Board and CBSA to finally address our issues concerning parity with other law enforcement agencies. For more information, speak with your CIU Branch President.

Our union and our bargaining team remain committed to achieving a fair contract for CIU/PSAC members in the FB bargaining unit. We’ll be sure to provide updates as things progress.

Download the PDF version of this update (bilingual document).

Business Sector to Government: Increase CBSA Resources

23 May 2017

Map of the Canada-USA Border with the words cross-border trade on top, with two arrows

On May 19, 2017, representatives from organizations across the business sector signed a joint letter, titled Investments in Our Borders, calling upon the federal government to increase CBSA funding and resources to deal with problems demanding urgent attention.

The letter, addressed to several federal ministers and signed by twelve major business sector associations, outlined long-standing cross-border trade problems, such as major delays and shutdowns due to the CBSA’s antiquated IT system. The letter also stressed the negative impact of staffing shortfalls which, combined with technical issues, continue to threaten the efficiency of cross-border commerce between Canada and the USA.

Ultimately, the signatories requested that “the Treasury Board of Canada increase CBSA’s budget as soon as possible to fix CBSA IT issues and add the staff required to help facilitate trade at the border,” highlighting that action is “urgently needed” on the government’s part.

Read the full letter here.

Government Delaying Signing of New PA, EB, TC & SV Collective Agreements

23 May 2017

PSAC has been pushing the government to sign four collective agreements by the end of May, but the employer is insisting they won’t be ready until mid-June at the earliest. These agreements, covering over 100,000 workers, were ratified by the membership in votes that concluded in April.

PSAC still waiting for drafts of agreements

At this time, the final drafts of the agreement for the Program and Administrative Services (PA) Group and the agreement for the Education and Library Science (EB) Group are just about finalized. PSAC has yet to receive the draft agreements covering the Technical Services (TC) and Operational Services (SV) Groups, even though the employer has had months to get the drafts ready. We are committed to reviewing the draft agreements and replying to the employer in less than three days.

Members have waited long enough

These agreements, which took over two and a half years to negotiate, do not go into effect until they are signed. PSAC believes our members, who have also spent the last year dealing with the Phoenix pay system debacle, have waited long enough. We are continuing to pressure the employer to make this a priority and sign these agreements signed as soon as possible.

A version of this article was also published on the PSAC website.

FB Bargaining: PSAC and CIU Oppose CBSA’s Part-Timer Initiative

16 May 2017

Recently, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced a planned change to its part-time policy. CIU has made clear that it is opposed to such changes, and PSAC has indicated at the bargaining table that our position is to improve job and income security for PSAC/CIU members at CBSA. An increase in part-time employment runs contrary to this objective.

Despite this, CBSA has indicated that it will proceed with the implementation of its plan and increase part-time employment at CBSA.

In negotiations, our PSAC-CIU Bargaining Team for the FB group has made proposals to Treasury Board and CBSA concerning shift work, scheduling and part-time work.

The law says that all matters subject to negotiation are frozen until such time as the parties reach a new agreement, are in a legal strike position, or until an arbitration award is issued. This means that our current terms and conditions are frozen. The same rules also apply with respect to changes that could have a direct impact on matters under negotiation or potentially subject to negotiation.

CBSA cannot make unilateral changes without negotiation

PSAC legal counsel has contacted Treasury Board to request that the CBSA and TB cease from implementing these changes. Should the employer proceed, we will file an unfair labour practice complaint with the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board.

CBSA management cannot do whatever it wants. We will uphold our rights. We will be sure to update as things progress. Please contact your CIU Branch President with any questions.

Download the PDF version of this update (bilingual document).

A version of this article was also published on the PSAC website.