What is the punishment for public servants who cross PSAC picket line?

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Several Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) component unions are now looking to identify people who crossed the picket line during last month’s strike of more than 155,000 government workers, who were rallying for wage increases, new remote-work language and protections related to contracting out work.

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But what are the consequences faced by union members who did cross the picket line, and how does PSAC keep track of the process?

Who can be disciplined?

According to PSAC, members who crossed the picket line and continued to work during the strike could be subject to disciplinary actions, including fines and suspension of their membership privileges.

The union’s constitution, which governs the PSAC and its components, outlines that elected union leaders who fail to take action against “scabs” (non-essential workers who chose to cross the picket line and go to work during the recent strike) can also be disciplined.

Fines

PSAC’s constitution indicates that people who are found to have crossed the picket line could be charged a fine equal to the amount of money they’re paid each work day by the government, multiplied by the number of days that they crossed the picket line.

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If someone being fined was paid out of PSAC’s strike fund used for supporting protesters during the strike, they would have to pay the fine to PSAC or its component that first sought out disciplinary action.

Suspension of membership

The union’s constitution states that PSAC’s national board of directors has the authority to suspend the membership of any elected union leader or member who violates PSAC regulations. Individuals can also be expelled by the board.

People can be suspended for up to five years, according to PSAC.

Someone who is expelled can have their membership revoked for life, though they are subject to a review process every five years.

The document indicates that any disciplinary action may be appealed to a tribunal, which can then make final binding decisions.

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Other impacts

Crossing a picket line can also have “long-term impacts on the working relationships between the coworkers who held the line and made sacrifices to get a good deal for everyone, and those who sided with the employer,” PSAC states on its website.

Marc Brière, national president for the Union of Taxation Employees, which represents more than 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers, said crossing the picket line can have “real-life effects.”

“They want to reap the benefits but they don’t want to pay the price,” Brière said about workers who chose to stay on the job. “People are ostracized by their co-workers, they’re ignored for the rest of their careers.”

PSAC reports on disciplinary action taken

Within six months of the conclusion of a ratification vote on the tentative agreement for workers reached between PSAC and the government, members of PSAC’s national board of directors are responsible for providing the Alliance Executive Committee, a union leadership team, with a status report on disciplinary actions taken against people who crossed the picket line.

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“The report shall include details of disciplinary action undertaken by Locals and Branches and what steps have been taken to ensure that the disciplinary action is taken against scabs as specified in this Constitution,” the constitution states.

How many people crossed the line?

According to government figures, around 97 per cent of non-essential PSAC members working under the Treasury Board withdrew their services during the first week of the strike.

The CRA indicated that over 93 per cent of workers withdrew their services over three days from April 25 to 27. 

On the search for ‘scabs’

Several component unions under PSAC are currently in the process of identifying members who chose to cross the picket line during the recent strike.

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Brière said union locals under the UTE are working to collect names of those who “scabbed,” with the union to then validate information and take on disciplinary action.

In a letter sent to members, Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees (UVAE) National President Virginia Vaillancourt said that those who chose to cross the line during the April strike “dishonoured and disrespected” fellow members, adding that it was “a disgrace” that they will benefit from their peers’ persistence.

Vaillancourt said UVAE is actively investigating members who crossed the line and asked members to submit names of “scabs” to the union’s national office.

Crystal Warner, the national executive vice-president of the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), said that while her group doesn’t intend to put out a similar letter, they are working with union locals to identify members who crossed the line in order to hold them accountable.

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Warner said they are comparing lists of those who checked into picket lines and received strike pay with government office lists. She said that CEIU members who are identified will be able to appear before a membership meeting to explain why they crossed the line, with potential disciplinary action to follow.

“I think every organization has to be empathetic but we also have to uphold the constitution,” Warner said, noting that members had access to the support of hardship funds during the strike. Not intended to be a source of supplementary strike pay for everyone, the fund aimed to provide emergency assistance to members experiencing financial difficulties.

Dominique Barrette, spokesperson for the Government Services Union, said that while that component has not put out an official statement, they are taking the matter seriously. She added that members who crossed the picket line will have to “face the consequences of their decision.

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“Thousands of members made sacrifices during 10 days for the collective good of their colleagues, lost wages and fought hard for a better contract,” Barrette said. “Having someone sneak around and put their personal agenda ahead while others are making the effort is, in our opinion, the ultimate sign of disrespect one can show.”

Milton Dyck, national president of the Agriculture Union, said it is in the process of collecting names.

Lira Buschman, spokesperson for the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, said that component is not planning on taking any action until after the ratification vote is conducted.

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