Media Releases

Ottawa – Commissionaires who provide security at the Canadian Forces Base in Kingston are entering their second month on strike, since walking off the job on June 24, 2019. Workers are looking for better paid sick leave provisions after losing their 2 paid sick days that were legislated by the previous Ontario Liberal government. What:             Rally at the Corps of Commissionaires Headquarters When:            Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at 8 a.m. Where:           Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (100 Gloucester Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 0A4)

Petawawa – Cleaners at the Canadian Forces Base in Petawawa are now on strike after a disappointing meeting with the employer and conciliation officer held on July 24th. During this meeting the employer, GDI Services, continued to demand many of the concessions that led to our members voting to take strike action to begin with.   

Kingston – The Kingston Commissionaires are entering their fifth week on strike, as the Corps of Commissionaires continues to refuse to continue negotiations. To show this employer that these workers are not alone, the Ontario Federation of Labour, along with all affiliate unions will be holding a Solidarity Rally in support of these striking workers.

Petawawa – Cleaners at the Canadian Forces Base in Petawawa will be in a legal strike or lockout position as of 12:01 a.m. on July 25, 2019, after their union requested a No Board report from the Ministry of Labour. GDI Services, is the company that is contracted by the Department of Defence to provide cleaning services at the Base. There are many issues to resolve with this employer before a strike can be averted, including:

Kingston – The Kingston Commissionaires (PSAC Local 818) have been on strike since June 24th, 2019. Many of these workers are veterans who have taken strike action to be able to secure paid sick leave and a fair contract. However, after almost 3 weeks on the picket line, the local MP, Mark Gerretsen, has yet to meet with these workers or offer any type of support to them. 

Kingston – Commissionaires in Kingston voted “No” on their employer’s (the Corp of Commissionaires) forced final offer vote held on June 19th, conducted by the Ministry of Labour. The vote was held at the request of the employer on an offer the workers had previously voted down. “Instead of negotiating in good faith, this employer is trying to undermine the bargaining process,” says Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Ontario Regional Executive Vice-President. “The workers have been clear; the Corp needs to negotiate fairly, or there will be a strike as of Monday.”   

Kingston – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) communicated to the Corp of Commissionaires last week that our union would pay the benefit coverage of their workers in the event of a strike or lockout, which could take place as soon as June 24th. This is a standard practice in labour relations between unions and employers when a labour disruption occurs so that workers have continuous access to their benefits. As this is a standard practice, which is of no cost to the employer, this request in normally granted between the parties.

Kingston – Commissionaires who provide security at the Canadian Forces Base in Kingston will be in a legal strike or lockout position as of 12:01 a.m. on June 24, 2019. Negotiations between the Core of Commissionaires and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) recently broke down, with PSAC requesting a No Board report from the Ministry of Labour.

Petawawa – GDI Services, the company that is contracted by the Department of Defence to provide cleaning services at Petawawa’s Canadian Forces Base has walked away from negotiations with their workers. After months of frustrating negotiations, GDI Services has been reluctant to address many of the concerns raised by its workforce. The majority of the workers earn wages slightly above minimum wage and have recently lost all their paid sick leave, due to the rollback of the Employment Standards Act.

Kingston – On April 26, 2019, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) will be holding mass information pickets at both Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston and Collins Bay Institution concerning ongoing bargaining frustrations.             What:              Mass Information Pickets             When:            Friday, April 26, 2019             Where:           - CFB Kingston (26 Somme Ave.) starting at 5 a.m. and                                     - Collins Bay Institution (1455 Bath Road) at 6 a.m.