Foreign Service - Strike?

[GoonerClank]

Hi,

Just to let you know. As pointed out the Beijing office foreign service officers are apparently on strike now, however they do seem to be maintaining some level of service, for at least some immigration files. Ours was perhaps a unique case as we had been issued a COPR/visa but sent it back with a change requested. In the past week, the embassy there:
- received a courier package from us
- reviewed and responded in an e-mail to us (June 17)
- sent out a courier package to us with passports/visa etc. (Thursday June 20), not yet received.

So at least some level of service is there, actually pretty good since they haven't actually responded to any requests we made for 6 months or more. Perhaps some staff/or managers chipping in.

By the way this strike has totally stressed me out too. :'( At least for us the end is in sight. I did send e-mails about the strike to both my local MP and Minister Kenney. At least the MP responded (stock NDP response - they support PAFSO, and referred to a statement made back in April see it at:

http://www.ndp.ca/news/new-democrats-support-canadas-foreign-service-officers

Also, of interest may be a news report in the Globe yeseterday of the negative effects on Canada tourism industry, expected this summer:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/job-action-by-foreign-service-hurting-canadian-tourism-industry/article12660862/

So hang in there and hope this gets resolved soon.

That NDP statement is almost 2 months old. Now parliament is on summer hiatus until Sept 16th (I believe) and the PAFSO has ramp up the strike. I doubt that we will not get much movement on this until parliament is back in session. Really upsetting.

 

[bubblybre86]

Does anyone know if the strikes will affect my proof of citizenship application?

Thanks

 

[LeisaP]

just curious if this effects the office that is mailing out PR cards to newly landed PR's.
I don't think it does, but just wondering if anyone else knows for sure?

 

[Sanju1986]

These Fu..k..in Visa officers should be dismiss for being negligent towards their jobs. And that AH Tim Edwards, because of whom we all are suffering should be told to find a job. I hate you freakin edwards, they already earn so much money and yes they earn $3000 less then ppl working in ottawa coz if they are working in New delhi then they are spending in Rupees. They even get free car's, gas allowance, free accomodation .. whatelese these bastards need.

 

[potential_resident]

That makes it sound like they are innocent bystanders. They are RESPONSIBLE for this. Just as they are RESPONSIBLE for the increasingly longer and longer delays we faced before the strike actions. And they are RESPONSIBLE for the further slowdown we are going to face due to:

So lets process foreign workers and tourists at the expense of family unification. Wonderful!

Can't wait for the next election when we can finally rid ourselves of these clowns.

i couldnt agree more come next elections... they will suffer with no votes from the immigrants in canada..... just because were not citizens or residents of Canada, it doesnt mean we get treated like this.... equal rights for everyone ! im from new zealand and sometimes it makes me wonder if its worth making canada my home country

 

[MadeInCanada]

So, can anyone tell me (hoping this is purely hypothetical) what happens if an applicant is waiting for their passport to be returned and due to the strike delay they do not return it in time? Which thus passes the visa expiry? Will they let that happen? And who if anyone is held responsible?

Thanks

 

[Lv.f]

Does anyone know if the strikes will affect my proof of citizenship application?

Thanks

Hey, if you are talking about the Search of Citizenship, I recently just sent one in too. It should NOT affect it because it was sent to Sydney, Nova Scotia. And Ottawa is on strike not Sydney.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

These Fu..k..in Visa officers should be dismiss for being negligent towards their jobs. And that AH Tim Edwards, because of whom we all are suffering should be told to find a job. I hate you freakin edwards, they already earn so much money and yes they earn $3000 less then ppl working in ottawa coz if they are working in New delhi then they are spending in Rupees. They even get free car's, gas allowance, free accomodation .. whatelese these *censored word*s need.

They are not being negligent toward their jobs. The conditions of their employment are negotiated every 4 years with the government, as is their legal right. Every Union gets ready to start negotiations long before their collective agreement expires. So they have given the Treasury Board more than enough time to negotiate a deal. The TB has spent the last 3 years not negotiating. So the party at fault for forcing this strike to happen is the TB not PAFSO and their members.

You do not know the conditions of their employment and deployment in Embassies abroad.

 

[amikety]

Everyone, read the post by PMM in this thread:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/recent-unread-topics/-t153196.0.html;topicseen

 

[brightredscream]

Media is saying though that visas and immigration are affected though?

 

[maplegal86]

Hi,

Just to let you know. As pointed out the Beijing office foreign service officers are apparently on strike now, however they do seem to be maintaining some level of service, for at least some immigration files. Ours was perhaps a unique case as we had been issued a COPR/visa but sent it back with a change requested. In the past week, the embassy there:
- received a courier package from us
- reviewed and responded in an e-mail to us (June 17)
- sent out a courier package to us with passports/visa etc. (Thursday June 20), not yet received.

So at least some level of service is there, actually pretty good since they haven't actually responded to any requests we made for 6 months or more. Perhaps some staff/or managers chipping in.

By the way this strike has totally stressed me out too. :'( At least for us the end is in sight. I did send e-mails about the strike to both my local MP and Minister Kenney. At least the MP responded (stock NDP response - they support PAFSO, and referred to a statement made back in April see it at:

http://www.ndp.ca/news/new-democrats-support-canadas-foreign-service-officers

Also, of interest may be a news report in the Globe yeseterday of the negative effects on Canada tourism industry, expected this summer:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/job-action-by-foreign-service-hurting-canadian-tourism-industry/article12660862/

So hang in there and hope this gets resolved soon.

This is very good to hear. At least someone is there working on our applications. New Delhi is also on strike, so I'm hoping some kind soul gives me my COPR in the coming week since I redid my medicals last week.

 

[maplegal86]

Media is saying though that visas and immigration are affected though?

I read that 'some' immigration officers in Delhi and Beijing have walked off.

But overall it can't be good for the morale of the people working in the embassy.

 

[bubblybre86]

I dont think Citizenship applications are affected, my worry is I sent mine via London and they are on strike! Im hoping it comes soon, its been 11 months so far!

 

[frettis]

These Fu..k..in Visa officers should be dismiss for being negligent towards their jobs. And that AH Tim Edwards, because of whom we all are suffering should be told to find a job. I hate you freakin edwards, they already earn so much money and yes they earn $3000 less then ppl working in ottawa coz if they are working in New delhi then they are spending in Rupees. They even get free car's, gas allowance, free accomodation .. whatelese these *censored word*s need.

I don't think they want to strike and put people through harder times then we already going through.
They are just practicing a democratic right to strike when negotiations fails or not even has taken place.
Striking is a vital part of workers rights and is what has made workers have any rights at all, because if we can't strike we can't really ask for higher wages, better benefits etc.

A conflict like this is never one sided. The Harper government has just as big (if not bigger) part in this conflict and the lack of reports of this conflict in media etc make me worried that this can go on for a long time.

It puts us in a horrible position of waiting, but it is just something we have to go through.

 

[DGT]

Just want to give you people a little hope.

I got an email from the London office yesterday, informing me that my COPR has been issued. So there is some work going on, somewhere.

I hope that means that in offices all over the world, there are a few people still ploughing away!