Back to List

Expedited Collective Bargaining

Sep 15, 2010

Dear Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) Members:

I wanted you to hear this directly from me and as quickly as possible: in the coming weeks, the PSAC and Treasury Board are entering into early and expedited negotiations of our collective agreements. Treasury Board recently contacted John Gordon to see if there was any interest in bargaining this fall. After discussions at the PSAC National Board of Directors, we agreed we should take the opportunity to bargain over issues important to our members – including economic security in uncertain economic times and table-specific issues that have arisen over the past years. To this end, and to the extent possible, the five previous PSAC Bargaining Teams (PA, SV, TC, FB, EB) are being reconvened to Ottawa. Team members have been contacted and are preparing for discussions with the employer to take place starting early in the week of September 20th. Should tentative agreements be reached, members will have an opportunity to vote on their ratification. If not, we will proceed with the regularly scheduled bargaining process. Communications will be key throughout this process. PSAC will provide updates and information as it becomes available. A Treasury Board Bargaining Update will be posted on the PSAC website, with more to come. I would invite you to share the link with your members, to visit the PSAC website on a regular basis (www. psac-afpc.com) and to subscribe to the PSAC "Bargaining News" e-mail lists. Our Union believes that, given the current circumstances, entering into bargaining discussions at this time is the most responsible option we have, and that doing so is in the best interests of our members. That’s the context. Now it’s up to the Bargaining Teams to do the best job they can at their respective tables. As Component leaders, it’s our job to inform our members and to stand solidly and in solidarity with our Bargaining Teams.

In Solidarity, Ron Moran National President