Tag Archives: bargaining

Working for a Fair Contract for Border Services Members

While Parliament is in recess over the summer, members of CIU’s National Board of Directors across the country are taking lobbying training and bringing our message to Members of Parliament. We’re talking to MPs about what it means to work for the Canada Border Services Agency and the importance of achieving a contract that provides parity with other law enforcement agencies.

Across Canada, we’re calling on MPs to contact Treasury Board President Scott Brison in support of our demand for an early retirement regime, one that reflects what is already in place for other law enforcement personnel in the federal public service.

There are many MPs we need to meet. While some meetings have already taken place, it’s not too late for CIU members to participate by volunteering to meet with their MP. Contact your Branch President who can provide you with helpful notes and information. Members can also get involved in Branch activities taking place over the summer to remind the employer that we want an agreement that meets our needs.

Progress is being made on an Essential Services Agreement

Talks concerning an essential services’ agreement (ESA) with Treasury Board are ongoing and progress has been made. Our hope is that an agreement will be reached in the very near future.

Because the essential services agreement determines which services can and cannot be withdrawn in the event of a job action, resolving the ESA with Treasury Board is critical step in the bargaining process that must be completed before a strike vote can be called and job action undertaken. We’ll provide an update as talks continue.

We’re preparing for the Public Interest Commission

Work is underway to prepare the extensive presentation and submission that our union will make before the Public Interest Commission (PIC). The first hearing dates are October 17 and 18.

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

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

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]

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

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.

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

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.

What’s Going On With FB Bargaining?

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. Also CBSA continued to push 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 process here.

Once the PSAC filed for a PIC with the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB), the Treasury Board responded by indicating that a PIC was premature and that more mediation was required.

Our response was clear: after over two years of talks – including a week and a half session in December and three full days of mediation in February – the parties were indeed at impasse and that it is time to move to the next stage in the process. What’s more, the Treasury Board and CBSA provided no indication that the employer is prepared to address the issues that our Team raised in bargaining with respect to compensation, pension and hours of work (among others matters). Our position was that there should be no further delay.

Next step is being set in motion

The PSLREB contacted the union on April 5, 2017 to notify us that the PIC is going forward, and that the next step in setting up a PIC is being set in motion (the appointment of the parties’ nominees). We are now awaiting news from the PSLREB concerning the next step in the process – the naming of the Chair of the PIC.

Unfortunately, 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, CIU leadership is consulting with Branch Presidents across the country, along with representatives from our bargaining team, to discuss next steps beyond filing for a PIC – including potential mobilization activities to get 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).