On March 19, ACFO-ACAF filed a policy grievance over Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) implementation of the NJC’s Workforce Adjustment (WFA) Directive.

Purpose of grievance

This grievance was filed due to several breaches of the Directive that occurred, including the:

• Failure to notify ACFO-ACAF over affected employees;
• Handling and lack of counseling provided to affected employees, including issues regarding privacy breaches; and
• Failure to abide by the framework in place when informing employees of their affected status.

Our priority is to ensure that employees are treated fairly and that established directives are properly followed. While ACFO-ACAF will continue to hold the employer accountable throughout this difficult process and will ensure that our members’ rights are respected, the policy grievance will not pause the ongoing workforce adjustment actions or rescind the affected status of any ACFO-ACAF members. By filing this policy grievance, ACFO-ACAF intends to:

• Ensure that IRCC understands the seriousness of these breaches;
• Hold them accountable to adhering to the directive going forward, particularly during the SERLO process and notification of opting/surplus employees;
• Advocate for a fair and “people first” approach; and
• Strengthen ACFO-ACAF’s ability to support members across all departments by setting a clear precedent for accountability.

Next steps

Discussion with both TBS and IRCC in order to address these breaches will begin shortly and we hope to achieve a resolution soon. In the meantime, we hope to work collaboratively with IRCC to resolve these matters and ensure smoother implementation of WFA measures going forward.

We will continue to ensure your rights are being protected at the collective level with actions like this grievance, by continuing our constant discussions with management, by participating in WFA consultation committees, and by collaborating with other unions. One of these collaborations includes participating in the CEIU’s Stop the Cuts rally on March 26 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm on Kent St (courtyard between Slater and Laurier). Any ACFO members who wish to attend may RSVP here (opens in a new tab) for a free pizza lunch.

We will also continue to represent your interests at the individual level by answering your questions and providing members with guidance. Should you have any questions about the grievance or any concerns about your individual case, please contact labourrelations@acfo-acaf.com.