Foreign Service - Strike?

[jwa007]

If you had intelligence to insult I would gladly do so.

Sound statement, especially based upon our many interactions and your apparent wealth of knowledge regarding my understanding of this subject. I think your argument, and perhaps this entire thread, has just jumped the shark.

 

[rocky0929]

Don't know if it matters to anyone, but this is the E-mail I sent to two reporters at the Calgary Sun yesterday.
I could be biased about the whole thing, so if it offends anymore, please know that's not my intention.
Thank you

Dear Mr. Dunn;

I am a regular reader of the Calgary Sun, and got your E-mail address from today's newspaper.
The story that I really want to bring to your attention is about the on-going strike that the PAFSO (the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers) has had for the past few months.

The unsuccessful negotiations between the PAFSO and the Treasury Board have led to a full walkout in all major Canadian visa offices around the world.
As the PAFSO has indicated itself, the cause of this irresponsible act is the uneven pay compared to similar government departments.
PAFSO has repeatedly emphasized the economical impacts of this trike on Tourism, Educational institutions, Airline companies and agricultural producers, and also saying that the whole issue could go away with 4.2 million dollars, only to leave the most innocent parties out of the whole picture:
The tens of thousands of applicants who are waiting to unite with their families in Canada through the Family Sponsorship program.
Or those students who are still waiting anxiously at home for their student visas.
The damages on these people cannot be converted to money, but the torturing affects can be converted to tears.

I take this strike very seriously and personally, because I am in the preparing stage of applying spousal sponsorship for my wife in China. And I am also reading lots of touching even piteous stories online from wives, husbands, sons and daughters. They have done their works, paid the fees, and are still been punished by this strike. The whole waiting process is already unbearable and exhausting, and this strike is putting more salts on the open scars.
I can't speak for all, but if money is the only problem, I am willing to pay more money on the application fee to cover their "uneven pay".

I sincerely hope you could write a column on this topic and make more people aware of this matter. And potentially apply more pressure on the PAFSO or the treasury board. I could be wrong, but I haven't seen any coverage by any major media outlets nation-wide regarding this strike.

As I do not know if you are correct taker of this E-mail, I have also send a copy to Kevin Martin at Sun media.

Thank you in advance for taking time to read this E-mail, and wish to hear back from you.

Best Regards

 

[Hope39]

What is happening to you is happening to me, my application is still pending, my wife is crying into my hears everyday and the kids, here I am in England , after i have been interviewed and gave all the documents required. I even e-mail cic in London three times no reply from them...

 

[JimE2013]

But the money you paid was to CIC. You have no direct agreement with the workers to process your app. So if you have a complaint about it complain to CIC and to their owners, the government. It's like saying if I go to MacDonalds and try to order a coffee and the cashier refuses, I should complain to the cashier's parents rather than her manager.

Not really. Good luck finding a restaurant in Canada called MacDonalds.

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

Rocky, good letter. It is interesting how the whole family aspect of this is completely dropped. And I realize we = zero revenue for anyone with our processes. But we do suffer the highest human costs. Nicely done man, and as a "Union" person (I realize that is a dirty word to some, for what ever reason) I take no offense from your letter.

Hopefully this whole bit of business doesn't slow those of us still languishing in the ques down to much.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Latest article on the strike (from a former diplomat):

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/Foreign+service+strike+leaves+students+hold/8739254/story.html

Good article. Thanks.

 

[scos]

Not really. Good luck finding a restaurant in Canada called MacDonalds.

You mean this place?

MACDONALD'S RESTAURANT & GENERAL STORE
RR#2
Dunchurch, ON
CANADA P0A 1G0
Contact: Richard Adams
Tel: (705) 389-2375
Type: Food & Restaurant -> Restaurant, Shopping
Region: Municipality of Whitestone
Comments: Year Round Operation Featuring Licensed Dining Lounge, with a Restaurant & Store.
http://www.welcometoparrysound.com/bizlist.php?type=30


But don't worry, I changed it to McDonalds since it seems to have upset you enough to post about it.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Don't know if it matters to anyone, but this is the E-mail I sent to two reporters at the Calgary Sun yesterday.
I could be biased about the whole thing, so if it offends anymore, please know that's not my intention.
Thank you

Dear Mr. Dunn;

I am a regular reader of the Calgary Sun, and got your E-mail address from today's newspaper.
The story that I really want to bring to your attention is about the on-going strike that the PAFSO (the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers) has had for the past few months.

The unsuccessful negotiations between the PAFSO and the Treasury Board have led to a full walkout in all major Canadian visa offices around the world.
As the PAFSO has indicated itself, the cause of this irresponsible act is the uneven pay compared to similar government departments.
PAFSO has repeatedly emphasized the economical impacts of this trike on Tourism, Educational institutions, Airline companies and agricultural producers, and also saying that the whole issue could go away with 4.2 million dollars, only to leave the most innocent parties out of the whole picture:
The tens of thousands of applicants who are waiting to unite with their families in Canada through the Family Sponsorship program.
Or those students who are still waiting anxiously at home for their student visas.
The damages on these people cannot be converted to money, but the torturing affects can be converted to tears.

I take this strike very seriously and personally, because I am in the preparing stage of applying spousal sponsorship for my wife in China. And I am also reading lots of touching even piteous stories online from wives, husbands, sons and daughters. They have done their works, paid the fees, and are still been punished by this strike. The whole waiting process is already unbearable and exhausting, and this strike is putting more salts on the open scars.
I can't speak for all, but if money is the only problem, I am willing to pay more money on the application fee to cover their "uneven pay".

I sincerely hope you could write a column on this topic and make more people aware of this matter. And potentially apply more pressure on the PAFSO or the treasury board. I could be wrong, but I haven't seen any coverage by any major media outlets nation-wide regarding this strike.

As I do not know if you are correct taker of this E-mail, I have also send a copy to Kevin Martin at Sun media.

Thank you in advance for taking time to read this E-mail, and wish to hear back from you.

Best Regards

Nice email but Sun Media is pro Harper. Why not send that email to every media outlet?

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Sound statement, especially based upon our many interactions and your apparent wealth of knowledge regarding my understanding of this subject. I think your argument, and perhaps this entire thread, has just jumped the shark.

Anyone that relies on a Fonzie reference to illustrate their point has already proven mine.

 

[canadianthrower]

Latest article on the strike (from a former diplomat):

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/Foreign+service+strike+leaves+students+hold/8739254/story.html

This is why I hate politics.

 

[costaudjoe]

This is why I hate politics.

Vote wisely in 2015.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Vote wisely in 2015.

Exactly.

 

[canadianthrower]

Vote wisely in 2015.

At this current pace won't be able to vote by then.

 

[gongdi]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-to-ottawa-on-rotating-strikes-fix-this/article13586191/

 

[Sangupta4751]

TO PAFSO Union

I first posted this on their main website but they deleted my post so I am here.

Did you guys watch this video. ( For Link please google "foreign service greed sun news" - first link will take you there)

"Why are you so greedy ?

Obviously you are not loosing anything but the poor applicants the very own ppl who pay their tax to sponsor your job !!

is 80k average salary any less ?? seriously !! "