Negotiations on labor strike for VISA officers (Embedded in Foreign Service)

[bongcan]

http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/18082-foreign-service-officers-treasury-board-talks-to-begin-again


Unionized foreign services officers are returning to the negotiating table on Monday, June 3, following a request from the Treasury Board Secretariat, according to the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO).


The affected missions and work units are: Manila, Cairo, Canada's Permanent Mission to the Organization of Amercian States in Washington, D.C., and the International Economic Relations & Summits Division, North America Policy & Relations Division, and Hemispheric Affairs Division in Ottawa.

In addition, all remaining PAFSO members are engaged in the eighth week of a work-to-rule campaign at headquarters and posts abroad.

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I guess CIC shouldn't be affected being under purview on Ministry of Immigration Vs Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But VISA offices outside Canada are part of Canadian diplomatic missions abroad and part of Foreign ministry.

 

[jigzyy]

Which means that CIC shouldn't be affected by this current situation, not a good reason to delay the first cap figures release.

 

[bongcan]

Further escalation, CIC also affected:


Some of Canada’s largest foreign missions are among those targeted by the job action, including missions in London, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong. Immigration officers in some of Canada’s largest processing centres in China and India also walked off the job on Thursday.


Link:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadian-diplomats-in-12-countries-walk-off-the-job/article12380040/

 

[jigzyy]

Things are getting serious ???

 

[bongcan]

“The ramifications on the immigration side, I think you can probably guess. It’s going to mean a massive backlog and huge reduction in the pace and volume of the processing of visas and permanent resident applications in these locations.”


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

 

[bongcan]

Any updates?

 

[bongcan]

Here's the latest updates:
CIC website says:

June 11, 2013 — The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) union is currently taking strike action. PAFSO union members responsible for processing visa applications have been walking out of offices in Canada and overseas.

Posted processing times for both temporary and permanent resident visa applications do not take into account work stoppages.

Anyone applying for a visa should anticipate delays and submit their application as far in advance as possible.

Contingency plans are already in place to ensure all offices remain open and are providing at least a minimum level of service. Priority will be placed on urgent humanitarian applications.

CIC continues to closely monitor the situation.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/2013-06-11.asp

 

[chie042012]

I hope and pray that the government will take care of all the applications diligently.

 

[Lucky777]

Dear any
please update latest news regarding the above topic. how long it may take?

 

[Anikazz]

Does anyone know how long it might take? or how long can the strike go on like this? because it is literally hampering all the applications in process..i am waiting for my husband for the past 9 months ...the london office has our application...and i am tired of all this mess

 

[Amanda10]

This will expire lot of Medicals and Police clearances in those Places. I hope it does not take longer than 2 weeks because even 1 day without working it is a big delay, how much more 10 business working days?

 

[kcrajan23]

Dear Frens
Plz post the related news related to this strike. This
Strike is really hurting us bitterly. Oh God how long have to wait?
It's already 3 years and 3 months.