To: The Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, House of Commons
Workers whose job it is to assist other workers when they need EI income benefits are now on strike for a fair contract.
The undersigned community and civil society organizations urgently call on the federal government to negotiate a fair collective agreement with striking Service Canada workers.
We work with and advocate on behalf of unemployed workers and others in need of EI when they’re laid off, on sick or parental leave, or require training. Many are vulnerable or racialized. We know firsthand how important it is that their EI applications and appeals are processed in a timely fashion. The livelihood of individuals and families depend on it.
Across the country, tens of thousands of Canadians rely on the front-line Service Canada workers who administer the EI program. The vast majority are represented by the Canada Employment Immigration Union (CEIU), a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) which declared a nationwide strike on April 19th.
To properly serve clients and do this vital work, Service Canada employees need improved staffing levels. They also deserve respect and wages that allow them to keep up with inflation.
Not long ago the Government of Canada thanked public service workers like those at Service Canada for their critically important and high-quality service during the Covid pandemic.
We couldn’t agree more. It’s now time to negotiate a fair deal with PSAC and a collective agreement that respects and values the vital work of Service Canada workers… day-in and day-out.