Author Archives: Admin Staff

Negotiating teams postpone bargaining with Treasury Board over Budget Act

PSAC bargaining teams for the core public administration and separate agencies met today to discuss their response to the government’s decision to gut collective bargaining rights in the recently tabled Budget Implementation Act. Bargaining teams all decided to postpone this week’s round of negotiations in order to assess the implications of the government’s violation of our members’ rights, and evaluate all possible actions to defend them.

The Budget Implementation Act (Bill C-59) authorizes Treasury Board to rip up collective agreements to remove sick leave and impose a short and long term disability plan outside of negotiated agreements. The Bill will circumvent the Public Service Labour Relations Act as well as ongoing negotiations.

“In light of the recent attack by this government against our members, our elected bargaining teams have decided not to engage in the scheduled round of negotiations this week,” said Robyn Benson, National President of PSAC. “This government is obviously acting in bad faith and have decided to bully their way into getting what they want, in complete disregard for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and existing collective agreements.”

The Supreme Court established the right to collective bargaining as a Charter right. Bargaining teams were strong in their resolve to defend our rights using all means at our disposal.

PSAC’s recent National Triennial Convention recently voted to use up to $5 million to protect members’ rights and promote public services.

Bargaining teams will continue their discussions.  Further decisions on the next round of scheduled negotiations will be taken in due course.

PSAC National Convention Passes Firearm Resolution

On Wednesday April 29, delegates attending the 2015 PSAC National Triennial Convention passed a resolution ensuring that all PSAC members who are required to carry firearms will have quick access to union-paid legal counsel if they use their firearm and/or other defense tools in the course of their duties.

This means that CIU members who are armed – Border Services Officers, Inland Enforcement Officers, Investigations Officers and Firearm Trainers – will be provided with protection that is vital given the work that they do.

The resolution also applies to other PSAC-represented law enforcement personnel, such as Fisheries Officers, Park Wardens and Wildlife Officers.

CIU thanks all PSAC delegates at the convention in Quebec City for supporting their Sisters and Brothers whose job is to enforce the law.

Further information and directives will be communicated to members as soon as these are available.

PSAC Convention Emergency Resolution Passes Unanimously

PSAC convention delegates meeting this week in Quebec City have wholeheartedly adopted an emergency resolution that mandates the union to: oppose government actions that will compromise any of our members’ rights; continue organizing and mobilizing our members through concerted and strategic actions with other unions to defend our bargaining rights; take the necessary legal action to defend our constitutional right to free collective bargaining; and work to elect a federal government that respects worker and union rights and federal public services, and that governs for the benefit of all Canadian workers.

For additional information, please visit:  PSAC National Triennial Convention