The CIU Collective Bargaining Committee (Ron Moran, Chair, and members Brea Lewis, Doug Tremblett and Dave VanHelvert) will be meeting in Ottawa on February 4, 5 and 6, 2014 to sort through, group and prioritize the FB demands that will have been submitted by January 30th for next round of negotiations.

FB Bargaining made our submissions before a Public Interest Commission at the Labour Board in Ottawa on December 10th

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 federal enforcement workers. Also consistent with the Act, a Public Interest Commission (PIC) was named to oversee the conciliation process and to hear our case concerning the matters outstanding in negotiations. Once the date of December 10th was set for the PIC hearing, the parties agreed to engage in mediation prior to the hearing. That mediation happened this past weekend, convened by the Chair of the Public Interest Commission.

While both Saturday and Sunday were set aside for mediation, the Chair ended the session at the end of the day on Saturday when it became clear that no progress was being made. As a result the PIC hearing took place on Monday at the Labour Board. Over the course of the day our bargaining team made our case for parity with other federal employees working for law enforcement agencies, including CX’s at Corrections Canada and the RCMP. We stated – repeatedly – that what we seek are simply to expand protections that are already contained in our current agreement, and to be afforded same rights and compensation that are already being afforded other employees working under Public Safety Canada. To review the full copy of the brief submitted by the PSAC to the PIC, go to: http://psac.com/news/2012/bargaining/20121212c-e.shtml.

We now await a recommendation from the PIC. Unlike arbitration, the recommendation is nonbinding. While the legislation provides for the PIC to issue its recommendation within 30 days of the hearing, the Chair may extend that timeline. Given the number of issues outstanding, there was some indication on Monday evening that the Chair may exercise this prerogative. We will be sure to update as things progress.

FB workers assist Bargaining Team in getting their message across on October 10th Day of Action.

Last week’s bargaining session ended with CBSA/Treasury Board taking the position that workers in the FB bargaining unit deserve less than what has been agreed to for other federal law enforcement agency employees. The following day, members in locations across Canada participated in a Day of Action to demonstrate to the employer that we deserve better.

On October 15th, PSAC National President Robyn Benson and CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin met with Treasury Board President Tony Clement to discuss the situation and to reiterate our call for a fair contract.

In the wake of both that meeting and last week’s demonstrations, the parties will be returning to the bargaining table on Monday to resume negotiations. Our hope is that the employer will finally be prepared to settle on a contract that is fair for FB workers, and is nothing less than what has been agreed to for other federal enforcement agency workers.

Union pushing for immediate ESA talks

For the past several years our union has been wrangling with CBSA over designations in an effort to achieve Essential Services Agreements. These agreements determine essential work which must continue to be carried out in the event of a legal job action. The PSAC has contacted CBSA and Treasury Board to set meeting dates in the immediate future in an effort to finalize all ESAs.

Congrats to all who participated last week. There will be more membership mobilization activities organized in the coming weeks to provide each member the opportunity to help our Bargaining Team obtain a fair contract.

Treasury Board/CBSA prepared to reconvene with our Bargaining Team in Ottawa

For months our Negotiating Team has indicated that we are ready to negotiate. We reiterated this again after the Government’s forced vote was thrown out by the federal court last month. We have also indicated that we seek a fair contract, comparable to what Treasury Board has agreed to for union members employed at other federal law enforcement and public safety agencies. On Tuesday evening Treasury Board/CBSA contacted us to set dates to reconvene the negotiating teams in Ottawa. We have agreed to reconvene next week, beginning Tuesday morning.

Day of Action October 10th.

On October 10th activities have been organized in locations across the country in support of our efforts to achieve a fair contract. Given that we have spent two years without a new contract, and given that we have been repeatedly offered significantly less than what Treasury Board has agreed to for workers at other federal law enforcement and public safety agencies, we are taking action to impress upon Treasury Board/CBSA that we deserve better. We deserve to be treated with respect. If no agreement is reached by the morning of October 10th, our Day of Action will proceed as planned.

In several locations preparations are well under way for the 10th. For more information, speak with your Shop Steward, Branch President or Regional PSAC Representative.