Foreign Service - Strike?

[Catou]

Someone suggested that this is not embarrassing enough for Canada so I wonder if we should up the ante. Writing to Canadian news media and politicians isn't getting us very far. Perhaps writing to news media in other countries and asking our (foreign) politicos if our countries can do anything to assist family reunification (like putting some pressure on Canada for answers) might help? International news headlines about people being left in limbo unable to join their spouses or plan their futures because Canada is unwilling/unable to resolve a two-year-old labour dispute might cause embarrassment that they can't ignore.
Just a thought...

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

Someone suggested that this is not embarrassing enough for Canada so I wonder if we should up the ante. Writing to Canadian news media and politicians isn't getting us very far. Perhaps writing to news media in other countries and asking our (foreign) politicos if our countries can do anything to assist family reunification (like putting some pressure on Canada for answers) might help? International news headlines about people being left in limbo unable to join their spouses or plan their futures because Canada is unwilling/unable to resolve a two-year-old labour dispute might cause embarrassment that they can't ignore.
Just a thought...

Shinning lights on rodents is the only way you get 'em to move.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Someone suggested that this is not embarrassing enough for Canada so I wonder if we should up the ante. Writing to Canadian news media and politicians isn't getting us very far. Perhaps writing to news media in other countries and asking our (foreign) politicos if our countries can do anything to assist family reunification (like putting some pressure on Canada for answers) might help? International news headlines about people being left in limbo unable to join their spouses or plan their futures because Canada is unwilling/unable to resolve a two-year-old labour dispute might cause embarrassment that they can't ignore.
Just a thought...

Each country is sovereign and their business their own. Doubtful that any country would even bother since the UN doesn't even act when a country gases their own people.

We have to remember that even though citizens voted for the Harper regime they do not work for the people. They work for big Oil and big Business. They are determined to rollback public service wages. They believe they make too much even though their pay has not increased with the rate of inflation in 30 years.

 

[gongdi]

The strike has been mentioned a few times in the Chinese media, but why should the conservative government care? How can you "shame" the "shameless"?
As for regular Canadians, who are worried about other things such as their jobs and holding onto their 1st world quality of life, would rather stem the flow of extra bodies to Canada anyway. So why should they care?

I've written dozens of letters, two of which were published, begged my MP for help on a number of occasions and written both PAFSO and Clement's office a few times detailing my ordeal and here I am with the rest of you, waiting.

For those of us being held for ransom (by either side in this ongoing strike), it will take waiting it out and focusing on getting through the long wait with the least amount of damage to your family/marriage.

 

[automaton82]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Government+files+notice+appeal+labour+board+faith+bargaining+ruling/8910888/story.html

gov't appealed bad faith

 

[rowdboat]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Government+files+notice+appeal+labour+board+faith+bargaining+ruling/8910888/story.html

gov't appealed bad faith

and the drama goes on ... meanwhile most PR applicants loose precious time spent with their love ones

 

[Catou]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Government+files+notice+appeal+labour+board+faith+bargaining+ruling/8910888/story.html

gov't appealed bad faith

PAFSO president Tim Edwards "said the strike is now one of the longest in public service history, and the economic costs it has caused are approaching $1 billion". And now the government is throwing more money at it by lodging an appeal against a decision that stated it had acted in bad faith when it set “unreasonable conditions” before agreeing to binding arbitration with striking foreign service officers.

All this money to waste and all this energy going into avoiding spending a very modest sum that would get everything moving again. Incroyable.

 

[Nell1236]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nepotism and http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nepotism both state an alternative definition.

You should learn the difference between the quality of sources - you're going to hold up "the free dictionary" against the Oxford dictionary? But if you just have to be right, think what you want, some people are "unlearnable". LOL.

And back to the topic of this thread: sad news that the Labour Board did nothing useful, that the government is making clear that it does not intend to negotiate and does intend to delay, by their act of appealing.

 

[Nell1236]

Obviously the strike cannot go forever and I am hoping for an end soon. Please no negative energy. From this article PAFSO sounds like they won't have preconditions and both sides will sit back at the table. It is better than nothing, at least we know that this is going somewhere please read this release http://www.pafso-apase.com/news_releases.php?newsID=164

How do you extract good news from this article - who is "going somewhere"? Both sides are entrenched in their previous positions - PAFSO willing to negotiate, the government unwilling. All the Labour Board did was agree with PAFSO, with no action taken. It doesn't matter whether you think positive or negative thoughts, it is what it is.

 

[gongdi]

and the drama goes on ... meanwhile most PR applicants loose precious time spent with their love ones

We are mere colateral damage.
As long as con senators and cronies get to keep their cash stuffed envelopes, everyone that matters is happy, right？When the vulgar majority show their discontent, just prorogue it all away. :-*
Sad part, they will probably win a minority in next election so long as the left is divided. :'(

 

[Canadian_Leb]

How do you extract good news from this article - who is "going somewhere"? Both sides are entrenched in their previous positions - PAFSO willing to negotiate, the government unwilling. All the Labour Board did was agree with PAFSO, with no action taken. It doesn't matter whether you think positive or negative thoughts, it is what it is.

I meant they finally had an order to get both parties to negotiate. It is better than nothing. There is not much we can do about it like you said except wait and watch and hope for the best. Sorry I just like to think positive...

 

[Vats]

Anyupdate?

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

Anyupdate?

Tony Clement is still a fool, that count?? No really he is, check out his twitter feed sometime.

 

[Nell1236]

I meant they finally had an order to get both parties to negotiate. It is better than nothing. There is not much we can do about it like you said except wait and watch and hope for the best. Sorry I just like to think positive...

But an order is exactly what they did NOT get. The Labour Board did not order them to re-enter negotiations, unfortunately. Just "encouraged" the government to sit down again at the table.

The only bright light that I can see is that the government looks even sillier and more intransigent than ever and perhaps there will be some repercussions within diplomatic circles about it. Who knows? The Mexican ambassador is reported (in Canadian newspapers) to be very angry with Canada about the visa requirements in general for Mexicans and is promising that there will be consequences.

 

[hockeyfan]

Hey All,

Interesting article regarding the backlog of visa applications from Yahoo news about the Mexican government getting mad about the visa process.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/mexico-really-mad-canada-over-imposed-travel-visa-154303940.html

Cheers,