PSAC convention delegates meeting this week in Quebec City have wholeheartedly adopted an emergency resolution that mandates the union to: oppose government actions that will compromise any of our members’ rights; continue organizing and mobilizing our members through concerted and strategic actions with other unions to defend our bargaining rights; take the necessary legal action to defend our constitutional right to free collective bargaining; and work to elect a federal government that respects worker and union rights and federal public services, and that governs for the benefit of all Canadian workers.

For additional information, please visit:  PSAC National Triennial Convention<

How else to describe the federal government’s intention to undermine our collective bargaining rights?

Sister Robyn Benson provides additional information in the attached letter and the following links will take you to the PSAC’s website for related announcements.

We will protect our sick leave

Government threatens collective bargaining rights in federal budget

Sick Leave Flyer 

“Twenty-five and out” plan raised at bargaining table and in Pension Advisory Committee.

Employees in the FB bargaining unit are law enforcement personnel. We are subject to the same rigorous employment standards as other law enforcement workers in Canada and we enforce dozens of laws and international trade agreements. Yet we do not have access to a retirement regime that reflects the work that we do.

Pension commitment

While pension modification is not subject to collective bargaining under the law, we reiterated our demand in bargaining this week to get a written commitment from CBSA and Treasury Board that they will support an early retirement regime consistent with what is in place for other federal law enforcement personnel.

PSAC National President Robyn Benson has placed the need for pension reform for PSAC-represented CBSA employees and National Defence firefighters on the agenda for the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee. CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin has also raised the issue directly with Minister Blaney. We will continue to push this initiative at all levels.

Other improvements

This week, we tabled our proposal to enhance legal indemnification rights for FB workers, ensuring that union members would be legally protected in the event that members of the public take legal action against an employee for performing their duties. Given our recent experiences, we told CBSA that we do not trust CBSA management and better protections are required.

We also discussed:

• our proposal for new protections for officers getting “H”ed on designated paid holidays
• our proposal to improve access to telework for non-uniformed officers
• CBSA’s roll out of a new system for uniform allotment
• issues related to inland enforcement

Progress made on Mental Health front

The PSAC successfully reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this session with Treasury Board concerning a joint task force do address mental health in the workplace. For more information on the MOU, visit: http://psacunion.ca/psac-achieves-agreement-treasury-board-mental.

We are meeting again in May. For more information and to see our proposals and those of  the employer, visit psacunion.ca/fb

CIU National Board of Directors and Observers stand in Solidarity with all Bargaining Teams on this day of action – March 19!!!<

On Friday December 19^th, members of the PSAC Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) Local 19 conducted a quick food drive in support of the Inn of the Good Shepherd. Both on duty and off duty members attended with donations. In addition, bargaining team member Lauren Baert was in attendance to answer any questions in relation to the negotiation process currently underway.  The organizers were very impressed with the response while the members were very pleased to support such a worthy cause leading up to the holidays.

This past week (January 12 through 15) our FB bargaining team met with Treasury Board/CBSA representatives to continue talks for a new collective agreement.  In negotiations, our team made a number of proposals geared towards making CBSA a much better place to work.