Spy agency staff accuse CSIS of bad faith bargaining, discrimination
Pandemic bonus given only to non-union staff
Clerical and administrative staff at Canada's spy agency are in turmoil, outraged and demoralized, after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service responded to a collective agreement by 56 unionized workers by giving pandemic bonuses to everyone else.
This amounts to bad faith bargaining and discrimination under federal labour law, according to a complaint filed Monday by the union representing the 56 workers. It asks the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board to force the spy agency's hand, and make it sign the agreement it tentatively agreed to in February.
This tribunal should also declare CSIS in violation of these labour laws, extend the temporary pandemic bonus to the 56 workers, and pay each $100 in damages, the complaint says. “A sufficiently large award is necessary to deter the Employer from engaging in similar behaviour in the future,” it reads.
“I can tell you what the impact is. I can't really explain why,” said John Eustace, negotiator with the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
It is terrible for morale, he said. The collective agreement for these clerical and administrative jobs at CSIS dates to 1986, and the most recent expired in 2018.
In April of this year, the 56 workers ratified a tentative agreement that brought their pay in line with non-unionized CSIS employees. The workers expected CSIS to do the same. Instead, less than two weeks later, it announced a five per cent annual bonus for non-unionized workers.
“It doesn't pass the smell test,” Eustace said. Some of the 56 workers are asking what good is it to be in a union if the employer can act like that, he said. Asked if this marked a breakdown in the process toward a collective agreement, he said “it doesn't have to.”
The complaint says some workers have not had a raise in five years and need one “to deal with rapidly rising inflation.”
The complaint describes frustration and anger and says some “feel punished for being unionized.” Chris Aylward, president of PSAC, called it a “power play meant to undermine the collective bargaining strength of workers.”
A spokesperson for CSIS on Tuesday said the agency would try to comment by Wednesday, but did not respond by deadline.
Emails between negotiators filed as part of the complaint show CSIS regarded the bonus, to be paid at 2.5 per cent of base salary paid twice a year until 2024, as “a temporary measure meant to address some of the current challenges the Service is currently reviewing.”
Eustace said he understands those challenges to be “trying to keep people.”
“Our members play a pivotal role in protecting Canada from threats both foreign and domestic,” said Aylward in a written statement. “CSIS should treat workers fairly and with respect if they want to continue recruiting and retaining top talent.”