Media Advisory: Border Services Officers rally at Peace Arch border crossing: We Keep Canada’s Borders Safe, We Are Law Enforcement, and We Deserve Fair Treatment

Vancouver – Members of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) will be demonstrating in support of ongoing national bargaining efforts toward a new collective agreement for members of the FB group (Border Services) on Thursday December 14, 2017, starting at 11AM, at the Peace Arch border crossing.

This demonstration comes following the launch of a coast-to-coast campaign by CIU and PSAC to remind Canadians that Border Service Officers keep the country’s borders safe and that they deserve to be treated as law enforcement officers by the government.

The FB Group is composed of more than 8,000 members working for the Canadian Border Services. These members have been without a contract since June 2014.

Among the unions’ demands, the major issues are:

• ’25 and Out’ – the possibility of retiring after 25 years without penalty;
• Wage parity with other law enforcement agencies;
• Protecting against the contracting out of work;
• Preventing CBSA from using technology to cut positions or put Canadians’ safety at risk;
• Stronger provisions regarding discipline;
• Stronger provisions regarding Variable Shift Scheduling Arrangements.

Event information:

• Where: North of the Canada/US border crossing, Highway 99 at Beach Road, White Rock.
• When: Thursday December 14, starting at 11AM  
• Who:
  • Jean-Pierre Fortin, CIU National President, via phone
  • Richard Savage, CIU 4th National Vice-President, on location

CIU is a Component of PSAC and represents 10,000 workers at the Canada Border Services Agency, throughout the country.

For more information and to schedule interviews: Patrick Bragg, PSAC Communications, (778) 889-3486