Brother Gaston Ethier receives Life Membership Award
On April 4, 2014, Brother Gaston Ethier, former President and Steward of the Eastern Ontario Branch, has been honored by the National Board of Directors with CIU’s highest distinction, a CIU Life Membership Award for his tireless efforts to support the participation of then CEUDA and now CIU members in the annual Canadian Peace and Police Officers Memorial Service in Ottawa.
PSAC Launches Court Action Against Bill C-4
The PSAC has taken the first step in its legal challenge against Bill C-4, the legislation that has gutted the collective bargaining rights of federal public service workers.
On March 24, 2014 the union filed its constitutional challenge to Bill C-4 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The challenge focuses on the following key areas:
- Essential services, which challenges the changes made to the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA) that give the employer exclusive right to decide what are “essential services” and which workers perform them.
- Dispute Resolution, which challenges the amendments made to the dispute resolution mechanisms under PSLRA where unions were free to choose a conciliation/strike process or binding arbitration. The amendments now restrict their choices. Bill C-4 also ensures that arbitration boards are no longer independent.
- Freedom of Association and Freedom to Strike, which argues that Bill C-4 violates the fundamental rights of federal public service workers guaranteed under the Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Changes made to the Public Service Health Care Plan
Changes to the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) were made following discussions between Treasury Board and the Plan’s Partners Committee, which includes federal public sector unions, retirees and employer representatives. Des modifications ont été apportées au Régime de soins de santé de la fonction publique (RSSFP) après discussions avec le Conseil du Trésor et le comité des partenaires du Régime, qui regroupe les syndicats de fonctionnaires fédéraux, les retraités et les représentants de l’employeur.
CBSA’s Notice to Employees regarding Essential Services Designation
We have been informed by Board of Directors members in the field that the employer is distributing notices to employees advising them that the position they occupy is one that provides essential services.
CIU appears before the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
Participation in the 2014 National Convention
We are fast approaching our Seventeenth National Convention. The National Convention, which is the supreme governing body of our Union, is held once every three years and provides an opportunity for all CIU members to become involved in the operation and future of their Union.
Convention Call – CIU’s 17th National Convention
The 2014 National Convention of the Customs and Immigration Union will be held October 3, 4, and 5, 2014 at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5R7.
Confirmed date for the signing of the FB agreement
This week, our PSAC Negotiator received final confirmation from Treasury Board that the signing of the FB agreement will take place on March 17th at 11:00 a.m., in Ottawa.