Talks continue on guns in the workplace

Progress made on major CIC safety issue

Union and management representatives are continuing their search for a solution to the issue of weapons in the CIC workplace and according to National Vice-President (NVP) Paul Croes, progress is being made.

At CIC workplaces co-located with Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) staff, armed officers bring individuals, some dangerous, into custody. A potential confrontation between armed CBSA officers and detainees raised safety concerns among CEIU members at CIC and in response the union initiated meetings with senior management figures.

NVP for CIC Paul Croes and CEIU staff officer Robin Kers pressed for action and the employer agreed to a working committee on the issue. Threat and Risk Assessments (TRA’s) were carried out as part of the search for an appropriate solution and they noted, among other things, that at least one office did not have its special weapons storage room fitted out with Kevlar protection on the walls.

“The solution will take different forms.” according to Croes. “One approach is to move offices currently co-located with the CBSA to different quarters, and this is already being done at some locations with more to follow in the future.” In other cases, improvements to the protective features of offices will be undertaken. “We are also working on a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dealing with altercations between detainees and armed CBSA Officers that should provide additional protection for our members” said Croes. The working committee hopes to complete the new SOP in August.

Croes credits the progress made to both the CEIU staff resources committed to the issue as well as the constructive attitude displayed by management. “There were a few bumps along this road” he said, “but overall this has so far been one of the best union-management committees I have worked with.”

Updates on the issue of weapons in the workplace will be published on the CEIU website as new information becomes available.