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.
The key issue for the workers is having access to paid sick leave. “Many of these workers are veterans who are older and in need of paid sick leave, so they don’t have to choose between going to work sick or losing a day’s pay,” says Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Ontario Regional Executive Vice-President. “It would cost the employer very little to have this benefit but would mean the world to these workers who served bravely for our country.”
The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires was created to provide meaningful, dignified employment to Canada’s veterans. Yet, in Kingston veterans working for the Commissionaires are earning just above minimum wage, with no sick days.
“Since this employer is not taking our issues seriously, we are preparing to take job action to make them listen,” says Ms. DeSousa. “It’s time the Corps lives up to its mandate and treat these veterans with dignity and respect.”
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Lino Vieira, Political Communications Officer, vieiral@psac-afpc.com or 416-577-0238