PSAC places Canada Employment and Immigration Union into trusteeship

PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa pointed to concerns over "governance and fiduciary operations." Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /POSTMEDIA

Article content

Canada’s largest union representing federal public servants has placed another component union into trusteeship.

Article content

On Sept. 4, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) voted to place the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) into trusteeship, making it the third component union taken under the larger union’s control in less than a year.

Article content

Article content

Placing CEIU under trusteeship effectively ousted its national and regional leadership.

Article content

Article content

Local executive leadership will remain in place, said a Sept. 9 PSAC news release.

Article content

The CEIU is one of the largest component unions in PSAC with more than 32,000 members representing workers in Service Canada, Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, among other workplaces.

Article content

In an email obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, PSAC’s national president Sharon DeSousa told CEIU members that “for several months, members have been raising concerns with me regarding the governance and fiduciary operations of the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU).”

Article content

“I want you to know that I have heard you, and that I do not take these matters lightly,” said DeSousa in the email.

Article content

The CEIU was placed under trusteeship just days away from the union’s convention when a new executive was set to be elected. The convention was set to be held Sept. 13-18 in Vancouver, but the timeline for the next elections is now unclear.

Article content

PSAC has appointed Shimen Fayad, the national president of the Union of Health and Environment Workers, as the trustee for CEIU, while Guy Boulanger is appointed as the administrator.

Article content

Article content

Since the trusteeship was announced, CEIU members launched a petition demanding a live membership meeting to explain the reasons for the move. The petition had amassed more than 200 signatures as of early Wednesday afternoon.

Article content

Article content

“The timing of this decision has also raised serious democratic concerns,” the petition said.

Article content

“Trusteeship was not the only possible course available. Members deserve an explanation of why this option was chosen at this particular time and why the newly elected leadership was not given an opportunity, with appropriate oversight and support if necessary, to address the problems identified.”

Article content

PSAC did not answer questions about why CEIU was placed under trusteeship at a time that elections were set to happen.

Article content

The CEIU national executive office has seen turmoil since the ousting of its then-national president Eddy Bourque and vice-president Sargy Chima after the two leaders pushed for members to reject a tentative deal to end a PSAC strike in 2023.

Article content