Foreign Service - Strike?

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Being part of a union I can tell you the next step will be rotating strikes. This will only slow down the process times.

I have said it before but it bears repeating, we need to draft up a letter stating our the prejudices this is causing us and send it off to our respective MPs. Otherwise, it will only get worse.

I agree. Rotating strikes that will escalate. This would be the best way to apply pressure to the government and minimize the impact to us the customer.
Everybody should get very comfortable now with applying pressure to their MP's and the Minister's office.

 

[CdnandTrini]

Reply: Foreign Service - Strike?

I agree. Rotating strikes that will escalate. This would be the best way to apply pressure to the government and minimize the impact to us the customer.
Everybody should get very comfortable now with applying pressure to their MP's and the Minister's office.

sigh............does it ever end?

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Re: Reply: Foreign Service - Strike?

sigh............does it ever end?

No it never does.

 

[scos]

Before the union gets to the point of strikes it would be in their interest to start flooding every media outlet they can about the problems in the department (staff reductions, backlogs, increased wait times, various loopholes and rule changes allowing offshoring, etc). Anything that will bring the people onto their side (and it shouldn't be too hard to do).

As it is the government keeps putting out press releases like the delays are due to fraud, Kenney is doing a great job reducing fraud and reducing backlogs, and he is increasing immigration numbers... (things we know to be distortions or outright lies). As long as people think he is "fixing" things, good luck with getting any concessions.

And if I see one more "Action Plan" commercial I am going to be ill.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Before the union gets to the point of strikes it would be in their interest to start flooding every media outlet they can about the problems in the department (staff reductions, backlogs, increased wait times, various loopholes and rule changes allowing offshoring, etc). Anything that will bring the people onto their side (and it shouldn't be too hard to do).

As it is the government keeps putting out press releases like the delays are due to fraud, Kenney is doing a great job reducing fraud and reducing backlogs, and he is increasing immigration numbers... (things we know to be distortions or outright lies). As long as people think he is "fixing" things, good luck with getting any concessions.

And if I see one more "Action Plan" commercial I am going to be ill.

I have made that same complaint to my own union. The problem is that the message gets twisted beyond recognition.

Unions have an image problem. Most non-union workers see unions as havens for lazy and incompetent workers who bully management and keep them from being efficient. Government and private industry like to promote that idea. Unions really are the cutting edge of the interests of all workers not just their membership. Any gains made by unionized workers will transfer sooner or later to their non-union counterparts.

Every union is eager to get to the negotiating table on behalf of their membership. Management at the behest of government either does not come to the table or arrive with so many concessions as to make negotiating impossible.

 

[CdnandTrini]

Reply: Foreign Service - Strike?

Before the union gets to the point of strikes it would be in their interest to start flooding every media outlet they can about the problems in the department (staff reductions, backlogs, increased wait times, various loopholes and rule changes allowing offshoring, etc). Anything that will bring the people onto their side (and it shouldn't be too hard to do).

As it is the government keeps putting out press releases like the delays are due to fraud, Kenney is doing a great job reducing fraud and reducing backlogs, and he is increasing immigration numbers... (things we know to be distortions or outright lies). As long as people think he is "fixing" things, good luck with getting any concessions.

And if I see one more "Action Plan" commercial I am going to be ill.

Agree, agree, agree. Did I say agree?

 

[brightredscream]

There's no new news on this, so I'm not worrying.

 

[costaudjoe]

There's no new news on this, so I'm not worrying.

No news in fact should be worrying. If work to rule has little isn't putting pressure on the Canadian government to negotiate, we can surely expect the next step, which would most likely be rotating strikes.

 

[costaudjoe]

And if I see one more "Action Plan" commercial I am going to be ill.

More than $100 million spent on advertising a defunct program. You have every reason to feel that way.

 

[costaudjoe]

I agree. Rotating strikes that will escalate. This would be the best way to apply pressure to the government and minimize the impact to us the customer.
Everybody should get very comfortable now with applying pressure to their MP's and the Minister's office.

It seems our predictions are now coming true.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/06/06/foreign-service-workers-target-harpers-european-trip-with-walkout-in-ottawa-key-missions-abroad/

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

It seems our predictions are now coming true.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/06/06/foreign-service-workers-target-harpers-european-trip-with-walkout-in-ottawa-key-missions-abroad/

Ya. Thankfully my wife got her visa just in time. This does nor bode well for those still waiting the PPR. Reduced services will probably mean that the only applications that get worked on are those already in process awaiting further documentation and/or remeds. This makes me sick as this government cuts government services as a means to save Flaherty's face in reducing the deficit. Clement was on the news last night with his open malice against Crown Corporation Unions being pissed at the government's attempt to undermine the collective bargaining process. If anyone thinks that Turkey's protests are something wait until they see the ones that will happen here.

 

[hockeyfan]

Any impact on inland applications?

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Any impact on inland applications?

"The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO), representing Canada's 1,350 non-executive diplomats, staged a mass walk out in Ottawa today and at posts around the world, protesting the Government of Canada's unwillingness to engage meaningfully at the negotiating table.

As part of a coordinated escalation of service withdrawals, over 400 Foreign Service officers based at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade headquarters in the National Capital Region left their positions this afternoon, joining members at twelve other missions worldwide who had walked out earlier in the day."

I think so.

 

[costaudjoe]

Any impact on inland applications?

It should have less impact. Now outland on the other hand...

 

[Nevaeha]

and :'(...