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Open letter to CBSA workers

Oct 04, 2010

Recently our union was invited by Treasury Board/CBSA to paricipate in exploratorytalks to see if agreements could be reached well in advance of the expiration of ourcurent collective agreements. Our team accepted the invitation, and met withmanagement for the first time on September 22nd. The paries agreed to set aside 2weeks for these exploratory talks. We indicated to management that we were prepared toenter into these talks as an opportunity to address problems in our workplaces and longstandingissues. Our proposals covered such areas as aring, scheduling (includingseniority rights for all union members, a comprehensive framework for VSSAnegotiations, elimination of involuntary 6 and 2 schedules), telework, paid meal periodand other items. While pension is mandated by the Superanuation Act and therefore isnot part of our contract, we also raised the issue of early retirement for FB workers.From the outset, Treasury Board indicated that the loss of all future severance accrual forpuroses of retirement and resignation must be par of any final settlement. In addition,at the FB table CBSA management proposed to reduce notice of shift change from 7 daysto 48 hours, to reduce call-back pay when called to work from home from 3 hoursovertime to 1 hour straight time, to put language in the contract that would state thatemployees would only get 7.5 hours when "H"d on a Designated Paid Holiday.Management also insisted on language that would give managers the power to askemployees to provide "satisfactory verification", "as determined by the Employer", whenemployees ask for any kind of leave. Management also sought concessions for AppendixB (VSSA negotiations).Unfortunately, over the 2 weeks that we met, management did not drop any of theirconcessions, nor did they signal a wilingness to seriously address our issues. As a result,we did not reach an agreement. To say that we are disappointed with management'sposition in these talks would be an understatement. PSAC/CIU members working atCBSA deserve better. Much better.Our contract expires next June. Under the law the earliest that we can serve notice tobargain is end of February 2010. We wil be doing so at that time. We are determinedto get the concerns of FB members at CBSA addressed in the upcoming formalround of bargaining. If you have any questions, please contact your shop steward orBranch President. We wil be sure to update as things progress.Sincerely,The PSAC/FB Bargaining Team