Diplomatic Professionalism

Those who are absorbed into the cadres of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade ideally represent individuals with a high degree of intelligence, capability, resourcefulness and dignity of person. Many of whom will be chosen on the basis of their select expertise to represent Canada abroad. There is a tradition at DFAIT that those whose who toil within its various parts; political, social, trade, immigration, represent Canada's best and brightest minds.

And perhaps that truly once was fact. It is highly questionable now, however, that the calibre of those men and women who work there as diplomatic representatives really are as well matched to their positions as they once were, taking pride in the quality of their work, in their patriotic outreach to pride, duty and honour. It would once have been unheard of that foreign service officers would take the kind of job action that is traditionally seen in blue collar jobs.

Evidently, no longer. And that represents a colossal embarrassment to Canadians at large. Perhaps not to the privileged, well-remunerated position holders at DFAIT who resent what they feel is a slighting of their professionalism through a process of pay scales that appear to favour the elite professions within the public service of which they claim themselves to be fully represented.

Their union, the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, now comprised of younger university graduates -- since the old guard who prided themselves on their superior performance as Canada's representatives abroad whose behaviour should be above reproach -- now feel it is seemly that diplomats walk off the job at embassies abroad. And to further signal their displeasure with a wage settlement that has not gone according to their expectations, they add insult to injury.

Governor General David Johnston's planned state visits to Ghana, Botswana and South Africa have given opportunity to these professional malcontents. Whereas once all foreign mission staff would be respectfully on hand to greet the Queen's representative as head of state of the country, as a sign of their anger with government they will meet the presence of the Governor General with pickets and strike signage.

Four dozen foreign service officers working out of Canada's embassies and consulates in Ghana, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Harare and Nairobi have chosen to neglect their duty in favour of withdrawing service along with their matching counterparts working at DFAIT headquarters in Ottawa. Similarly, immigration officers in Mexico City will leave their workplace, in solidarity. Visas be damned.

"Four dozen is not a huge number, but it will have a significant operational pressure on government and the department. We hope it doesn't escalate further and we're waiting for Treasury Board to return our call but until then we feel we have no choice but to increase the pressure on the government." Tim Edwards, president, PAFSO

The quality of personnel and their job performance on behalf of their country, represented by PAFSO members bears little actual resemblance to the fabled annals of one-time personnel in a once-respected ministry. The grubby tactics preferentially chosen, holding government hostage to the demands of the union representing 1,350 personnel at DFAIT do them no favours in public opinion.

They decry a situation where they claim "equal pay for equal work" is not being adequately respected. They cite the difficulties relating to uprooting families in the need to circulate abroad to various postings. But in fact the very issue of living abroad representing the best interests of one's country is a rare privilege, and a well-compensated one. It comes with respect, good working conditions, attention to the needs of families and very special privileges.

The 'information pickets' held at embassies in Washington, London and Mexico City, are poor payment indeed to the public purse, betraying an attitude of entitlements that represent an insult to the positions they hold.