Members of PSAC Local 20501 (Mainland Commissionaires) serve 72 Hour Strike Notice
Published by Patrick November 28th, 2008 in Bargaining, Commissionaires Tags: Bargaining, Commissionaires.The 40 Commissionaries, members of the PSAC, working on contract to the Canada Boarder Services Agency at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport served 72 hour strike notice on November 27, 2008.
It’s about safety according to Rob Hellenius President of Local 20501 Mainland Commissionaires. “We have been forced to perform unsafe work, escorting dangerous detainees around the country without proper safety equipment or training and the Corps of Commissionaires refuse to acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring our safety on the job. This is one of the key reasons we joined the PSAC.”
After a frustrating year of bargaining in an attempt to win a first collective agreement the members were left no other option, but to serve strike notice effective Dec 1, 2008 at one minute past midnight. Hellenius points out “We haven’t had meaningful talks with the Corps since they walked out of the Conciliation process back on Sept 19, 2008.”
The PSAC has filed a bargaining in bad faith complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board as well as other Unfair labour Practice complaints.” The union has also asked Worksafe BC to investigate. That investigation is underway.