At the last session with the BC Corps of Commissionaires held on July 7 and 8, 2008, the parties had tentatively agreed to continue negotiations on August 20 and 22, 2008. These dates were confirmed on August 2, 2008. However, the employer subsequently denied leave to a member of the bargaining team, preventing him to attend the meeting and these dates were cancelled.

These negotiations, for a first collective agreement, included two (2) bargaining units: approximately 40 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport and 8 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Seal Cove Coast Guard Base in Prince Rupert.

The application for Conciliation affects the CBSA unit only. The Seal Cove unit falls under different legislation. Therefore, the parties will now be negotiating the two (2) agreements separately.

A couple of months ago, the employer announced they had been notified by CBSA that their contract would end on March 31, 2009, and that a public bid would happen sometime this fall. The employer then imposed an arbitrary deadline for reaching an agreement with the Union. If a deal was in place by September 30th, the employer would be bidding on the work. If such a deal was not in place, the employer would not be bidding on the work. The Union is still hopeful that, with the assistance of a Conciliation Officer, an agreement is still possible.

We are currently in the process of scheduling membership meetings. More information will be provided at that time.

• Job Descriptions - contained in the Post Orders and shall reflect the duties and responsibilities expected of the employees;
• Professional Membership, Registration and Licenses Fees - employer to pay for periodic refresher training to maintain First Aid and CPR certificates and will reimburse employees for any other certificate and/or license required for the employee’s position, as determined by the employer;

Discussions were also held regarding the following issues:

• Definitions and Interpretation
• Information
• Discrimination and Harassment
• Leave With or Without Pay for Union Business
• Other Leave With or Without Pay
• Layoff and Recall
• Seniority
• Pay Administration

With the employer representatives not being available until the end of August, the next negotiation meeting with the employer has been scheduled for August 20, 2008.

These negotiations, for a first collective agreement, include two (2) bargaining units: approximately 40 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport and 8 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Seal Cove Coast Guard Base in Prince Rupert.

• Union Recognition - recognition of the PSAC, by the employer, as the exclusive bargaining agent for the employees identified in the bargaining certificate;
• Joint Consultation Committee - process and some parameters regarding discussions between the parties on matters of common interest;
• Technological Change - reference to relevant legislation and commitment to meet to discuss any effect it will have on employees, with a view to minimizing such effects;
• Court Appearances - reimbursement for wages lost due to a court appearance when serving as a subpoenaed witness;
• Leave to Vote - in accordance with the relevant statutes.

Discussions were also held regarding the following issues:

• Employee Orientation
• Information
• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Political Rights
• Leave With or Without Pay for Union Business
• Other Leave With or Without Pay
• Seniority
• Suspension and Discipline
• Professional Membership and Fees

The next negotiations meeting with the employer is scheduled for July 7 and 8, 2008.

• Management Rights
• Union Recognition
• Bargaining Unit Work
• Job Security
• Union Representatives
• Use of Client Facilities
• Employee Orientation
• Union Dues and Membership
• Information
• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Leave With or Without Pay for Union Business
• Seniority
• Grievance and Arbitration Procedure
• Technological Change

Although some progress was made during those two (2) days of negotiations, no articles were signed off. These negotiations, for a first collective agreement, include two (2) bargaining units: approximately 40 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport and 8 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Seal Cove Coast Guard Base in Prince Rupert.

Information sessions with the membership are planned to be held shortly. The next meeting with the employer is scheduled for June 17 and 18, 2008.

This was the first meeting of the parties following the exchange of bargaining proposals on February 27, 2008. These negotiations, for a first collective agreement, include two (2) bargaining units: approximately 40 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport and 8 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Seal Cove Coast Guard Base in Prince Rupert.

The following issues were discussed:

• Purpose and Scope of the Collective Agreement
• Management Rights
• Definitions and Interpretations
• Union Recognition
• Union Representatives
• Use of Client Facilities
• Union Dues and Membership
• Information
• Leave With or Without Pay for Union Business

Although some progress was made during those two (2) days of negotiations, no articles were signed off. The next meeting has been tentatively set for May 29 and 30, 2008.

These negotiations will include two (2) bargaining units: approximately 40 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport and 8 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Seal Cove Coast Guard Base in Prince Rupert.

The parties reached a tentative agreement in February 2007 and the agreement was promptly ratified by the PSAC. However, the Corps kept refusing to sign it. This prompted the PSAC to file a complaint of bad faith bargaining and, after one day of hearings on October 2, the Corps finally agreed to ratify the new collective agreement.

The contract provides our members with a grievance and arbitration procedure, health and safety provisions, a hiring process, job security and salary increases. The contract expires in March 09.

For our members, the signing of this collective agreement demonstrates once again that solidarity among the membership will always win the struggle, even against the toughest employer.

Cashman made the statement this morning. For Cashman, it is unacceptable for the Corps to be pocketing money that should go to its workers.

“The Corps receives 80 cents an hour per Commissionaire from Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to pay its workers a bilingual premium while the Commissionaires receive only 35 cents an hour, a difference of 45 cents,” says Cashman. “In Ottawa alone, there are about 3,000 Commissionaires. This represents a huge amount of money.”

In a letter to Auditor General, Sheila Fraser, Cashman has requested an investigation into that practice by the Corps.

“Our membership believes that Canadians must receive value for money when purchasing goods and services,” Cashman wrote. “While suppliers may be entitled to reasonable profit margin, we question why there is such a considerable difference between the bilingual premiums paid by PWGSC to the Corps and the premiums received by the Commissionaires to provide bilingual service.”

The PSAC is currently negotiating a first collective agreement for the Commissionaires providing security guard services at the Health Canada buildings in Ottawa. The negotiations started 14 months ago and the Corps still refuses to negotiate the monetary aspects of the contract.

“The Corps of Commissionaires has made the entire process extremely difficult,.” says Cashman. “But we intend to persevere because our members deserve a fair and equitable collective agreement.”

Corps representatives recently walked out of a meeting with a conciliation officer when the time came to discuss salaries.

“The managers of the Corps want to impose salaries on the workers without any discussions,” says Cashman. “It’s unacceptable. They need to move into the 21st century and update their approach to labour relations.”