Earlier in July, National President Teresa Eschuk and National Vice-President Mike Tennant met with Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, to advance the priorities of our CCG members and to enhance the union-management relationship. We brought the commissioner’s attention to a few issues:
Stop-the-Clock in the CCG
Members are aware that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans stopped the clock on Coast Guard members’ term rollover to indeterminate status. UCTE stated that the CCG has a recruitment and retention problem. The stop-the-clock order prolongs precarious working conditions which of course does not help the retention and recruitment issues.
The Commissioner understood the issue, took it seriously, and said he will look into it further.
Harassment In and Outside the Workplace
We shared our report on the Canadian Coast Guard member survey, which was recently shared with the membership.
We highlighted the high number of harassment complaints and lack of satisfactory resolution for many of these complaints.
The Commissioner spoke of efforts to address harassment within the CCG, and emphasized that there is “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment.
Outcome
We have re-affirmed the open lines of communications with CCG, building on the work of previous National Presidents.
In solidarity!