Jean-Pierre Fortin, National President

Jean-Pierre Fortin began his career in 1982 as a Customs Inspector with Revenue Canada, at first in St-Armand, then in Noyan, and later on in Clarenceville, Quebec. This particular area of the province is still considered “home”.

It was in 1987, as a member of the Eastern Townships District Branch, that Brother Fortin first became a union representative. Initially, he was elected Treasurer, then 2nd Vice-President and in 1996, President. He remained Branch President until he was elected, in March 2003, to the National Executive as CIU’s Fourth National Vice-President.

At the CIU National Conventions of October 2005 and October 2008, Brother Fortin was elected First National Vice-President. As such, he was responsible for operations at the National Office and in 2009, negotiated the collective agreement for National Office employees. He was also the Chair of two National Board of Directors standing committees: Border Security and Finance.

At its October 2011 National Convention and by acclamation, the CIU elected Brother Fortin its National President. He brings new energy to the position and his years of experience at the Branch and Executive levels will undoubtedly serve him well as he continues to build and strengthen the CIU.

A strong and charismatic leader, Jean-Pierre Fortin is determined to protect the interests of the CIU, defend its members, and champion their rights.

Jason McMichael, First National Vice-President

Brother Jason McMichael was elected to the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) National Executive as the First National Vice-President at the 16th National Convention held in Ottawa in October 2011 after a three-year term from 2008 to 2011 as the Fourth National Vice-President.

Jason McMichael started his career with CBSA in January of 2000. His union career quickly followed. The strike of 2004 was a real turning point and motivational factor for him. The camaraderie and solidarity displayed on that picket line was something he’ll never forget.

It was shortly after this strike that he joined the Sarnia District Branch Executive (local 19), and progressed through the ranks of Chief Steward, 2nd Vice-President and 1st Vice-President. Jason took every opportunity to learn through various educational offerings by the PSAC and eventually became a PSAC facilitator. He was very active in the firearms initiative and exercised his right to refuse dangerous work on multiple occasions as a result of the employer failing to recognize the dangers of the job. He developed a real zest for Health & Safety that endures to this day. He is proud to Co-Chair the National Policy Health & Safety Committee.

In 2007, Brother McMichael took on the extremely arduous but rewarding task of organizing the non Customs bridge workers at the Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia. He is proud to say that as a result of that initiative, those workers are now proud members of the PSAC.

The next three years will be fought with battles, but he is confident that CIU will continue to build on past successes.

Carmen Filice, Second National Vice-President

Brother Carmen Filice was re-elected for a second term to the National Executive of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) (formerly the Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise) as the Second National Vice-President during the 16th National Convention of the Union, which was held in Ottawa in October 2011.

Carmen studied at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he earned his B.A. with a major in Spanish and a minor in Italian.

He began his career in 1990 when, after successfully completing the CIRTP in Rigaud, he went to work as a BSO at the Queenston Bridge in Niagara Falls. In 1994, Carmen moved to Toronto where he continued working as a BSO until 2001 when he changed paths and moved over to Customs Trade.

Brother Filice has been involved with the Union since 1996 when he was first elected as a Steward for the Toronto District Branch. In 2001, he became a Chief Steward, and, in 2002, rose to 1st Vice-President and then to President of the Branch.

As 2nd National Vice-President of CIU, Brother Filice Chairs both the Human Resources Committee and the Honours and Awards Committee of the CIU National Board of Directors. He also represents CIU on the Joint Informal Conflict Management System Steering Committee (ICMS is a mandatory program under the Public Service Labour Relations Act), and holds the CIU portfolios for the Employee Assistance Program, and for Trade. Finally, Brother Carmen is the NVP responsible for the following CIU Branches: Northern Ontario, Eastern Ontario, Headquarters, Toronto, and Hamilton.

Carmen strives to take a firm yet reasoned and conciliatory approach to addressing labour relations issues faced by members, and he remains fully committed to improving the CBSA as the workplace of CIU members.

Peter Russell, Third National Vice-President

Brother Russell was elected as the 3rd National Vice President of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) this past October during the 16th National Convention held in Ottawa.

Peter began his career with Canada Customs in December of 1988 at the Ferry Point Crossing in St. Stephen, N.B. where he is still currently employed by CBSA.

Becoming a Union Activist in 1993 as a steward, then in 1996 being elected to chief steward of St. Stephen and Milltown, N.B. until 1999 when he took the position of 1st VP of the N.B branch then on to become the Branch President in 2005 for N.B. and P.E.I. which he held until being elected to the National Executive in 2011.

In his six years as Branch President Peter was active on the National Finance Committee and sat on the Convention Finance Committee for the last two Conventions.

Brother Russell held an active seat on the Border Security Committee since it was founded in 2005 and successfully completed the first arming course in July 2007 that was held in Ottawa at the Canadian Police College.

Peter is now the chair of the National Finance Committee and CIU Holdings Ltd. along with Border Security which he will actively serve with passion to the 10,500 members of CIU.

Ron Moran, Fourth National Vice-President

After four(4) terms as the National President of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) from 1996 to 1999, and from 2002 to 2011, Brother Ron Moran stepped down from the CIU presidency and was elected Fourth National Vice-President at the 16th National Convention held in Ottawa in October 2011. There was definitely a strong feeling that CIU, under his leadership, is on the right track as Delegates to the 2011 Convention expressed an eagerness to see where CIU will head under his continued stewardship.

With the solid support from a countless number of tireless and dedicated activists and through appearances before Parliamentary Committees, using the media, and personal contact, he helped to provoke leaping changes to our members’ working conditions, some in areas fought for many years such as arming, shift-doubling, and obtaining a separate bargaining unit certificate from the Labour Board.

Today, as the Fourth National Vice-President, Ron’s portfolios include Collective Bargaining and Technological Change; he is also responsible for CIU’s Quebec and Prairie Branches. And with twelve(12) years of experience at the helm of this Union, Ron also helps playing the enviable role of mentor to the Union’s many up-and-coming leaders.

Originally from Montreal, Ron is a dedicated unionist whose approach to labour relations is decisive, determined, and resolved. Protecting and improving employment and working conditions of every CIU member are always his key goals.

Karen Church, Equal Opportunity Representative

Sister Karen Church was elected to the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) as the Equal Opportunity (EO) Representative for a second term at the 16th National Convention held in Ottawa in October 2011.

Sister Church has been a Customs Employee for 31 years starting as a CR-02 and has held the position of BSO now for 27 of those 31 years. She became actively involved in the Union 10 years ago.

Karen started as a Steward, was elected 1st Vice-President and then, years ago, became the Windsor District Branch President (CIU local 0018). At her first National Board Meeting with CIU, she was elected to sit on the EO Committee as well as placed on the By-Law Committee. During this time, she also became active with PSAC.

In 2003, Sister Church was elected at the Ontario PSAC Convention to the seat of GLBT Rep. Most recently, she was re-elected for a third term Nationally, Karen has been very active with Duty to Accommodate issues. She co-chairs the National Union/Management Accommodation and Disability Committee, return to work, and arming issues as well sitting on the CBSA National Employment Equity Advisory Committee She has taken many courses over the past years to educate herself from Advanced Leadership training to Duty to Accommodate courses. She has been a Joint Learning Program (JLP) Facilitator since 2008 and delivers the courses that the JLP offers.

André Beaulieu, Youth Representative

André Beaulieu was elected to the post of youth representative for his first mandate after this position was created during the 16th National Convention of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), which took place in Ottawa in October 2011.

Brother Beaulieu is a man who is very involved in his community. Working as a policy organizer and committee assistant between 2007 and 2009, he simultaneously began his training with the Border Services Agency in May 2007 in Grand-Sault, New Brunswick. The following September, he was transferred to the Edmunston station.

In January 2009, Brother Beaulieu went to Rigaud to complete his training before being deployed to Woodstock, New Brunswick as a seasonal worker and finally obtained an indeterminate position in April 2010. He also worked a number of occasions in offices outside his region, including the Windsor Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario.

Strong values are always on the forefront when Brother Beaulieu fights to overcome injustices and improve his working environment. While he studied part-time to complete his Bachelor of Business degree, his youth and passion brought him to work on several files in various capacities. He was named Director of Young Workers at the PSAC for the Atlantic Region in June 2011, and today proudly assumes the position of the first Youth Representative of the CIU.