Foreign Service - Strike?

[CanadianJeepGuy]

and :'(...

Ya. This is going to impact a lot of people. I would email your concerns to your MP and cc the Minister's office.

 

[costaudjoe]

Here is the list of MPs http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=current.
You just need to search for your riding.

I would recommend sending an email to the following: your MP, Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney, Tony Clement, Thomas Mulcair, Justin Trudeau, Elizabeth May, Paul Dewar, Mathieu Ravignat, Bob Rae, and John McCallum.



PS If your MP is Brent Rathberger (Edmonton-St Albert), well god help your soul. ;-)

 

[Nevaeha]

Here is the list of MPs. You just need to search for your riding.

I would recommend sending an email to the following: your MP, Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney, Tony Clement, Thomas Mulcair, Justin Trudeau, Elizabeth May, Paul Dewar, Mathieu Ravignat, Bob Rae, and Joh McCallum

United we stand! We can either sit back and watch this transpire or exercise our rights and have our voices heard!

Any suggestions to use as a template?

 

[costaudjoe]

United we stand! we can either sit back and watch it happen or exercise our rights and have our voices heard!

Any suggestions to use as a template?

I don't mind throwing something together. We could take one of two points of view. One is to insist that the government resolve the situation (which could end up with some ham fisted approach). The other is to take the side of the FSO and insist that the government negotiate in good faith with them.

 

[Nevaeha]

I don't mind throwing something together. We could take one of two points of view. One is to insist that the government resolve the situation (which could end up with some ham fisted approach). The other is to take the side of the FSO and insist that the government negotiate in good faith with them.

Personally, I feel for the workers; however, that is my take on the situation. I'm sure everyone has their own point of view on this matter. At the end of the day I want the final result to be my husband with me in Canada sooner than later.

 

[costaudjoe]

Personally, I feel for the workers; however, that is my take on the situation. I'm sure everyone has their own point of view on this matter. At the end of the day I want the final result to be my husband with me in Canada sooner than later.

I hear ya. I am pro-union all the way. What they are asking for is not the usual union posturing. The pay inequity is a valid grievance.

 

[blueboom]

Well no wonder London has had my husband's passport for a whole damn month. Literally all that needs to happen is putting the visa in his passport and sending it back and that is obviously not an essential service so I guess it's going to be awhile until I see him again.

I am going to contact my MP. They are asking for equal pay for equal work. That doesn't sound unreasonable to me.

 

[costaudjoe]

Here is a first kick at the can, something that people can tweak or use for inspiration:

Dear Mr. Garneau (your MP here),

I would like to bring to your attention a problem that has not been resolved by the current government and more importantly looks only to worsen. As you may know the Foreign Service officers who work abroad have been without a collective agreement for over two years now. Their principal grievance is the considerable difference in pay as compared to their counterparts in Canada. Today, they have shifted their pressure tactics from work to rule to rotating strikes (as reported today in the Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadian-diplomats-in-12-countries-walk-off-the-job/article12380040/).

This is quite disconcerting for me, as I have applied to sponsor my common-law partner. I am currently a constituent in your riding and my intention is to reside here with my partner. The application process is already a lengthy one. At the beginning of the year, the Harper government decided to close some offices and centralize the applications. In our case, the Seoul office was closed and all open applications were transferred to Manila. This will unquestionably draw out the process even more. These office closings have, I am certain, only exacerbated the Foreign Service officers' work conditions. It seems now that regular strikes are imminent. The net result is hardships that will be suffered by my partner and myself. For example, part of the process requires us to submit a criminal record and a medical examination. We will have to go through the process of obtaining and submitting them again. It is worth mentioning that the process for most applicants risks exceeding well over a year to complete.

I would also like to point out that this effectively means that our lives are on standby. My partner is not able to look for work. We cannot settle and buy a home. We cannot start our family. We are not able to become active members of our community. It is simply troubling to be in a state of flux with no possible end in sight. It is unfortunate that the Harper government is unable to come to the table and negotiate in good faith.

Cordially,

My Name

 

[costaudjoe]

Well no wonder London has had my husband's passport for a whole damn month. Literally all that needs to happen is putting the visa in his passport and sending it back and that is obviously not an essential service so I guess it's going to be awhile until I see him again.

I am going to contact my MP. They are asking for equal pay for equal work. That doesn't sound unreasonable to me.

I would recommend also sending it to info@pafso.com as well (the FSO Union).

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

To Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Honourable Members........

I am writing to you as one of 10's of 1000's of Canadians currently involved in the Family Reunification process through Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Ongoing events that have transpired over the last year with closures of Visa Offices, reduction in Public Service positions and now the labour action of Foreign Service Workers have seen processing times double in nearly every still active Visa Office on the planet.

This is unacceptable. Longer processing times dramatically affect real people and real families in real time. The added financial and emotional strain by the actions of this government could easily be avoided if they were working in the best interests of the Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents who pay for this service beyond our tax contributions. CIC's policy is to process all applications within 6 months of receipt yet not one Visa Office achieves that target for more than 20% of applications. So why close Visa Offices? Why downsize the staffing compliments when the need and numbers of immigration grows every year? Why allow a collective bargaining negotiation to go 2 years unresolved? Is this Government not interested in people? These people they look to every 4 years to grant them leadership?

Canada is a democracy like no other. We are a people who's national identity is built on the belief and pursuit of fairness and equality above all else. I would ask the Prime Minister and his Government, of and for the people of Canada, to seriously reconsider their current direction and re-open Visa Offices, negotiate in good faith and adjust the staffing levels in Visa Offices so CIC can meet their own policy commitments of 6 month processing times for Family Reunification.

I thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[Nevaeha]

Thanks CJG and costaudjoe for taking the time to provide sample letters!!!! +1 for each of you!

 

[user828]

MP will do Jack S**t, but in hindsight - weren't they working limited hrs etc, so if a deal is reached wouldn't that mean they go back to the regular processing which was slowed down due to show and tell

 

[waiting1234]

Are they on full strike? or do they go back to work tomorrow? It doesnt mention whether its rotational or permanent strike

 

[blueboom]

I saw a news bite where Tim Edwards said it was indefinite, but I don't know what that means.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

MP will do Jack S**t, but in hindsight - weren't they working limited hrs etc, so if a deal is reached wouldn't that mean they go back to the regular processing which was slowed down due to show and tell

Emailing your MP is the best thing to do if your application has been with the Embassy in your home country for more than 6 months.

They are on reduced staff. No negotiation will be reached. The government will find a way to claim they are an essential service and legislate them back to work. They have done this to all unionized government and Crown Corporation employees. This government is as corrupt as the Liberals are stupid.