Demonstration in Support to our Support (CR/AS) Staff Members

(PR Net-USA)

On Monday, September 27, 2010, the members of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) will march in front of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Offices at 400, Place d’Youville in Montreal, Quebec between 7 and 9 am to support their fellow Sisters and Brothers Support Staff (CR and AS) members.

The Customs and Immigration Union has been aware since 2007 that a pilot project is taken place in Montreal, QC to address the issue of CR/AS job descriptions. It was brought about by the fact that there were 185 job descriptions that covered various support staff positions nationally. These descriptions have followed the now CBSA throughout its legacy evolution. Most of these job descriptions have been identified as inaccurate, improperly classified, obsolete, out-of-date and not reflective of duties performed by those members.

The Support Staff Community and CIU have been very frustrated with the slow approach and disregard apparent in this process. CIU has been approached by numerous CR/AS members seeking an expedient and fair resolve to their job description and classification issues. Many of these members feel this is also an equity issue due to the fact that it’s predominantly a female dominated group. CIU is looking into this as also being a Human Rights issue. Read more here.

Border Guards’ Firearms Trainer Fired; Union Calls Move ‘Vindictive’

(Chris Cobb — Ottawa Citizen)

The firearms expert chosen to supervise the weapons training of Canada’s border guards has been dismissed by the Canadian Border Service Agency in what his lawyer says is “vindictive and unfair” treatment.

RCMP Sgt. Richard Groulx, one of Canada’s leading firearms trainers, appears to have been unwittingly caught in a bitter dispute between the border guards’ union and senior agency managers in Ottawa.

Groulx remains employed by the RCMP but is now fighting to continue the secondment to CBSA, which began almost four years ago when he was hand-picked to lead the firearms training of the country’s 4,800 border guards.

The union-management dispute is over the arming of customs officers who are asked to take part in joint search operations with the RCMP and other police forces. Read more here.

Hillary Clinton on Border Security with Canada

(U.S. Government – Department of State)

Excerpt from interview on CTV’s “Power Play with Tom Clark”

QUESTION: And if we can figure it out in the Arctic, can we expand that and talk about the continent? You know that for many years there was a discussion of perhaps customs union between Canada and the United States as a way of thinning the border, because all that’s happened is that the border, as you know, has gotten thicker and thicker. Can you foresee the day when you might – your country may look at the idea of a customs union as a way of perimeter security for North America, as opposed to fortress America?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we’re not looking at that right now. There are those who are writing about it and suggesting it. But I think your larger point is very important. This is the longest, most peaceful border in the world. We are each other’s biggest trading partner. We have an enormous investment in the economic well-being of the other on the side of the border. And my goal as Secretary of State is to begin to clear away any obstacle or misunderstanding.

Now, in an economic downturn such as the world has gone through over the past two years, people get a little bit nervous and become somewhat anxious about their own futures. But we’ve worked through some of the difficult issues already this past year. And I just want to keep teeing them up. Now, we’re not going to make agreements on everything right away, but we are such close allies, we are such good friends, your country has more American citizens living in it than in any other country other than our own. So there’s just so much that connects us, and I want to broaden and deepen our relationship to make sure that we always remain as strong and partnered as we can be in looking toward the future.

Read the complete transcript here.

Here’s a Thought – How About Erasing the Canada-U.S. Border?

(Barbara Yaffee — Vancouver Sun)

A book by Toronto journalist John Ibbitson suggests we’re overdue for a North American environmental, economic and security accord

A new book is challenging Canadians to consider the benefits of a radical scenario: Erasing the Canada-U.S. border.

That’s right. The two nations would retain their distinct sovereignty but there would be no more passports or work visas.

The continent would see a free flow of goods, services and people; common rules for immigration and refugees; joint inspection of shipping containers from abroad; an integrated terrorist watch list; a system of security enforcement around the perimeter of the continent.

“The worst that will happen is that we may have to adopt American spelling,” posits author John Ibbitson, a Toronto journalist writing on U.S. politics from Washington, D.C. Read more here.

Union Predicts Delays as Canada Border Services Imposes Cutbacks

(CBC News)

The Canada Border Services Agency is cutting back on overtime staffing across the country just as the United States is increasing its border security measures, sparking concerns among Canadian employees.

The move will mean certain delays for people entering Canada, the union representing border workers said Wednesday.

“The public can certainly expect a longer waiting time to get through,” said Jean-Pierre Fortin, vice-president of the Customs and Immigration Union.

The agency has cut back on its staffing budget, meaning workers at land and airport border control points will no longer be allowed to work overtime during peak periods. […]

In an email to CBC News, the border agency said overtime hours are being reduced in order to manage resources more efficiently. [...]

But Fortin said the union fears border security will be jeopardized. Under one money management measure, for example, guards will stop using gamma ray imaging to scan the contents of trucks, containers and other cargo, which he said will impact “the security of this country.” Read more here.

Border Officers Feel Feds’ Bite

(Corey Larocque — Niagara Falls Review)

Cap on wage hikes covers this year, next two

Niagara’s border officers will feel the pinch as Ottawa tightens its belt by capping wage increases for federal public servants.

New legislation will limit increases to 1.5 per cent a year over this year and for the next two, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in Thursday’s economic and fiscal statement. Border officers learned last week the government was imposing the restraints.

“We pretty well had a gun to our head, so we had no choice,” said Fred Milligan, president of the Customs and Immigration Union local that represents 375 workers in Niagara Falls. There are about 200 workers in a different local in Fort Erie.

“It’s kind of hard to take. At the same time, we realize there are people out there who are losing their jobs,” Milligan said. “It seems every time something happens, we have to take the brunt of what’s going on.”

Union representatives learned last week of the government’s plan to limit raises in response to the global economic crisis.

“It would apply to all federal public servants,” said Niagara Falls MP Rob Nicholson, the Conservative justice minister. Read the rest here.

Federal Employees Agree to ‘Tough Times’ Wage Deal

(Bill Curry — Globe and Mail)

Federal public servants moved to sidestep a politically charged showdown with the Conservative government yesterday, agreeing in principle to Ottawa’s take-it-or-leave-it final wage offer.

The deal offers more than 100,000 employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada a 6.8-per-cent raise over four years. The union had been asking for more, but said Monday that times have changed.

The government threatened in last week’s Throne Speech to legislate a deal if necessary, and called on all departments to find savings. Also last week, Treasury Board President Vic Toews upset PSAC by publicizing an offer to federal employees, describing it as final.

Union leaders and Treasury Board officials worked through the weekend and came to an agreement late Sunday night, PSAC president John Gordon said.

“Given these tough economic times, we feel this is the responsible thing to do,” he said yesterday. Read the rest here.

Border Guards Find Gun Training Tough

(Richard Brennan — Toronto Star)

Canada’s border guards have been struggling to meet firearms training requirements, with 12 per cent failing the three-week certification course on the first try, according to internal government documents.

Their union complains the course is compressed into too short a time period, and that the RCMP-based standards are more stringent than those of other police forces across the country, say documents obtained by the Toronto Star through the federal Access to Information law.

“You have to appreciate the fact when (RCMP) recruits go to Depot in Regina, they are there for 16 weeks and that the training they receive for firearms is spread out,” Ron Moran, president of the Customs Excise Union, told the Star yesterday.

Moran said that compares with three weeks of training for border guards, many of whom have never held a gun in their lives.

The training course requires proficiency with a firearm at 25 metres, whereas the distance is 15 metres for other police forces across the country, Moran said.

A Canada Border Services Agency spokesperson said the training standards are set high to ensure the safety of the agency’s staff and the public.

“Candidates are allowed two attempts to pass the course,” Tracie LeBlanc noted by email. “Participants who do not successfully complete the duty firearm course on their first attempt receive feedback and guidance to help them prepare for their next qualification attempt.”

In a controversial move, the Conservative government announced $101 million to be spent over two years in its 2006 budget to begin arming Canada’s 4,800 border guards. The process is expected to take 10 years to complete at an estimated cost of $1 billion.

While the failure rate for the training program was about one in four when the program first started, it is now down to about 12 per cent, compared with a 2 per cent failure rate at the Ontario Police College, the Canada Border Services Agency documents show. Read the complete article.

Custom Officials’ Slowdowns Cause Long Airport Waits

(Vancouver Sun – Catherine Rolfsen)

Travellers going through customs at Vancouver International Airport today have faced waits of up to two hours because customs officials are deliberately slowing down lines to highlight a contract dispute, a union president said.

“The officers did tell me today [Friday] that they’re working to the full extent of their work description,” said Sue Neumann, customs excise union president responsible for Vancouver’s airport, sea ports and cruise ships. “This is obviously a reaction, this is not normal.”

The union is currently in a contract dispute with the Canada Border Services Agency, but is not in a legal strike position. Instead, individual customs can choose slow down border crossings by following every detail of their job description. Neumann said that this morning, a plane that would normally be processed in 30 to 45 minutes took 90 to 120 minutes.

But CBSA spokeswoman Tracie LeBlanc said any backups today at YVR are “not a work slowdown” but rather due to a convergence of incoming flights.

And Kate Donegani, a spokeswoman for the airport authority, said although “it’s certainly a busy Friday afternoon here,” there’s no indication the crowds are due to work slowdowns by customs officials.

She said unless the Canada Border Services Agency takes seriously the union’s concerns, “I can see this actually escalating and probably spreading out to other areas” such as cruise ships and sea ports. Vehicle border crossings could also be slowed down this weekend, another union official says.

“The union hasn’t directed anyone to take any job action, but I hear that there are several members that are taking matters into their hands and slowing things down,” Dan Leibel, who represents the customs excise union in southern B.C., said today.

Nevertheless, Leibel said border guards, in order to highlight their grievances, could work “by the book” rather than using their experience – meaning they could take a full four minutes rather than the usual 15 seconds to a minute for processing each car. And commercial vehicle inspections, which often take as little as five minutes, could be dragged on for up to eight hours, he said.

Leibel couldn’t say what is planned at specific crossings. “I’ve heard that some officers in some instances are going to let everyone through without charging them duty,” he said.

‘Discontented’ Border Guards May Start Slowdown

(Dave Battagello — The Windsor Star)

Canada Customs officers are so disgruntled with the state of contract negotiations, they’re prepared to stage slowdowns that will make for “a long, hot summer” for commuters, vacationers and truckers at Windsor’s border crossings, a union leader said on Wednesday.

“The union is not calling for a work slowdown of any sort — but our members are really upset,” said Marie-Claire Coupal, 4th national vice-president and the former local union president for 550 customs officers in Windsor.

The union has been without a contract for almost a year and the two sides are far apart in negotiations on salary issues and work conditions.

“Our members are discontented enough to start a slowdown,” Coupal said. “We have no control — that’s the problem. They may take some of these things into their own hands.”

On the cusp of being required to carry firearms and with increasingly demanding work conditions in the new security era, their union has been calling for customs officers to be paid salaries comparable to police and correctional officers.

The union has been seeking a 29.3 per cent salary hike over three years, but the latest offer from the Canada Border Services Agency was for under two per cent annually over four years.

“We’ve done a comparison of work between different police agencies and that’s where we end up,” Coupal said. “That’s the market value.

“It sounds like a lot, but if you look at what we are taking on, it’s not out of line.”

Tracie Leblanc, a spokeswoman in Ottawa for the Canada Border Services Agency, would not comment on the state of negotiations, but issued a statement on the potential for a slowdown in Windsor and other border crossings: “The CBSA will respond quickly to any situation in order to maintain the security of our border and ensure that it remains open to legitimate travellers and goods.”

There are no talks scheduled between the two sides. Read the complete article.

Related: Province Editorial — “Pressure Points”

Customs Protests Could Mean Long Waits This Summer

(Phil Couvrette — Canwest News Service)

Drivers could face long and galling lineups at border crossings this summer as customs officers involved in a contract dispute guarantee their pressure tactics, currently targeting truckers and commercial vehicles, will “get worse,” a union official said.

There are fears that the backlog will increase wait times for vacationers and that the havoc might even extend to airport border crossings.

Customs excise union vice-president Jean-Pierre Fortin says the last offer from the Canada Border Services Agency is a “slap in the face” and “ridiculous.” Fortin says border officers have been applying pressure tactics on commercial traffic at various locations across the country. Border guards have been taking more time to process trucks as they try to clear customs.

“The employer is trying to provoke our people,” Fortin said. “Our people were so shocked by the offer that they’ve already started using pressure tactics, we’re trying to calm things down.

“Truckers have been targeted and (protesting officers) guaranteed it would get worse.”

Pressure tactics have been used on commercial traffic in various large border crossings across the country including Fort Erie, Ont., Niagara Falls, Sarnia, Ont. and in New Brunswick. So far the West has been largely spared, but Fortin said it was likely the movement would extend to major border crossings such as those south of Vancouver.

“I’m sure that’s going to escalate, as the frustrations grow,” said Dan Leibel, who represents the union in southern British Columbia. “I’m feeling frustrated myself.”

Leibel said he suspects several guards have probably already started their own personal protests, “some directed at commercial traffic, some at other travellers, daily shoppers.

“My estimation is that it’s going to get very ugly,” he said. “I think you’re going to see small pockets of rebellion from our members, not instructed by the union but taking it upon themselves. Several people will maybe muster together the troops and say ‘let’s do something about this’.” He suspects this would most likely happen in places where they would have the most impact and “would get noticed.”

While the union isn’t currently in a legal strike situation, this would likely follow in the fall, Fortin said. The protest movement could extend to ports and airports as well.

As of June 21 customs officers will have been without a contract for a year, Fortin said. Read the complete article.

Border Guards Frustrated

(Sun Media)

Canadian customs agents working without a contract

The union representing Canadian border guards says its members are frustrated they’ve been working almost 11 months without a contract.

As talks to reach a deal resume in Ottawa today, a member of the border guards’ bargaining team says union and management negotiators are heading toward "an impasse.”

While there were reports of a work-to-rule campaign by customs agents at border crossings, traffic appears for the most part to be flowing well into Canada from the U.S.

“I’m getting calls and so is (the) president of Niagara Falls (branch) that the members have taken upon themselves to do some job action,” said Dave VanHelvert, a member of the bargaining team for the Customs and Excise Union.

Traffic entering Niagara Falls was backed up onto the Rainbow Bridge. Drivers crossing at Fort Erie endured a slight back up, but continued to move through the border point.

Wage proposals are expected to be presented when talks resume today, VanHelvert said.

“This June, it will be a year without a contract so people are getting kind of upset,” said VanHelvert.