Law Enforcement Officers working for CBSA seeking fair and equal treatment.
OTTAWA, Feb. 5, 2017 /CNW/ - After three days of mediation and more than two years at the bargaining table, talks have broken off between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Treasury Board regarding a new Collective Agreement for CBSA workers.
The main issue is the unwillingness of the Government to treat these workers the way other law enforcement workers are treated, with respect to working conditions and compensation.
"These workers protect Canadians every day. They are responsible for keeping drugs and illegal guns out of our country. They help find abducted children and protect vulnerable people from exploitation through human trafficking," said Robyn Benson, National President of the PSAC. "They deserve the same respect as the other law enforcement officers, like the RCMP, who work shoulder-to-shoulder with them to keep us safe."
Key demands include:
- A commitment to allow early retirement, like other law enforcement officers, in recognition of the physical toll of this work.
- Fair discipline procedures that protect workers from abuse of authority by managers.
- Compensation and working conditions in line with other law enforcement officers, such as the RCMP.
"Not only has the Government refused to treat these law enforcement workers fairly, they are seeking major concessions that will make it harder for these workers to spend time with their families," said Jean-Pierre Fortin, National President of the Customs and Immigration Union, a component of PSAC.
"Given the refusal of the Government to address our priorities, we have declared impasse and will be proceeding to the next step in the process – filing for a Public Interest Commission (PIC)," added Benson.
PSAC represents approximately 8000 CBSA workers. They have been without a Collective Agreement since June 2014.
SOURCE Public Service Alliance of Canada
Information and interviews: Jonathan Choquette, Communications Officer, 819-773-2511, [email protected]
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