Treasury Board bargaining update: FB Team Discusses Operational Issues
Published by Patrick November 17th, 2008 in Bargaining, Treasury Board Tags: Bargaining, fb, Treasury Board.Parties Remain Apart on Several Fundamental Issues.
This past week our FB bargaining team met with Treasury Board/CBSA in negotiations for a first FB contract. The parties continued discussions regarding critical operational issues such as hours of work, Doubling Up, Alternative Working Arrangements/Telework, respect for workers’ seniority and the Arming Initiative. Our team reiterated to management the vital importance of ensuring that we have a voice in the hours that we work, the need for there to be protections in place around Alternative Working Arrangements for Trade Compliance Officers and other workers that have traditionally performed work duties off-site, and Doubling Up language for BSO’s, Inland Enforcement and other FB workers.
The parties also spent a considerable amount of time discussing the Arming Initiative. As we have stated from the outset of negotiations, there must be language in our contract providing protections in the context of the implementation of firearms. CBSA/Treasury Board’s refusal to date to include language in our collective agreement over this fundamental change in working conditions for thousands of workers in the FB bargaining unit has been a serious stumbling block in negotiations.
Our team is prepared to return to the bargaining table before the end of this month. The Employer indicated that they would be in contact with us this week to set additional dates. Management has yet to provide a comprehensive response to our wage package. If you have any questions contact a member of our bargaining team or your Shop Steward. For more information go to: www.ceuda.psac.com. We will be sure to update when additional dates are set.
PSAC at CBSA United for a Fair Contract!