On June 7, 2013 the Minister of Heritage, James Moore, ordered that a vote on the employer’s final offer be imposed on the FB bargaining unit. Here are the top 10 reasons to vote no.
1. DANGEROUS PRECEDENT:
We must reject CBSA and Treasury Board’s heavy-handedness and complete disrespect for the collective bargaining process. To do otherwise would set a very dangerous precedent.
2. RESPECT & PRIDE:
We must take a stand and tell our employer that comparing our work to Security Guards is wrong. The Public Interest Commission (PIC) recommendation recognizes the important work that we do as law enforcement agency employees. We should be treated accordingly.
3. NON-UNIFORMED:
The Employer’s final offer does not address issues that we’ve raised concerning non-uniformed workers.
4. PROTECTION:
Unlike the PIC recommendation, CBSA’s latest final offer does not provide the same protections for employees being armed as those agreed to at the last round of negotiations.
5. PARITY:
In terms of salary increases, many other groups in the federal public service, including Parole Officers who work in the same department as we do, have been given more than what is in the CBSA offer.
6. WE DESERVE BETTER:
In terms of salary increases, no other bargaining unit in the federal public service has received less than what’s contained in CBSA’s final offer.
7. PART-TIMERS:
The Employer’s final offer does not address issues that we’ve raised concerning parttime workers, even though the PIC recommendation includes new rights for part-timers.
8. MEAL PERIOD:
The CBSA’s final offer does not provide for a pensionable paid meal period for union members. A paid meal period is the norm for virtually all law enforcement workers in this country,
including Correctional Officers and RCMP Constables who work for the same department as we do. The PIC recommendation opens the door for serious discussion on this issue.
9. EQUALITY:
The one-shot $2000 taxable arming ‘carrot’ is only applicable to some BSOs at armed ports.
10. RIGHTS:
The Labour Board recently indicated that the law provides for union access to CBSA workplaces, and the PIC recommendation also contains union access rights, yet CBSA’s latest final offer ignores both the PIC recommendation and the Labour Board in this regard.
We protect and defend our borders, we take pride in what we do. Vote NO, so that we can get back to the table and negotiate a fair contract.
