Gloating Unbecomingly

"Some of these missions start their workdays on a Sunday, and they are already out in the Middle East in particular."
"The potential losses could far exceed the $280-million that the tourism industry has put on this."
"Resolving our dispute would cost the government $4.2-million."
T. Edwards, president, Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers

As threatened, services at embassies processing thousands of visitors' visas, visas for temporary employment and visas for studying in Canadian academic institutions are now fully impacted in fifteen Canadian embassies worldwide. Previously, the burden placed on anxious people attempting to secure their visas were mostly confined to three missions. Treasury Board's unwillingness to surrender to PAFSO's demands has resulted in a wider inconvenience and related loss of income to Canada.

So, really, it is the federal government and Treasury Board that are 'intransigent' in the matter of refusing to bargain with Canada's Foreign Service Officers who insist through their union that they are fully entitled to a wage increase that would compare favourably with others in their field of work who they claim are paid up to $14,000 annually more than they are. And with whom they declare themselves to be of equal measure. FSOs are hardly ill-paid employees of government. Their salaries are generous by any measure.

Theirs is an elite government department, out front and centre in dealing with foreign nations, both their foreign diplomatic corps counterparts and international politicians at the executive administrative level. They are trusted spokespeople for their country, whose duties are to advance the government's agenda, and in so doing, lending it credence by their actions, through their professional expertise and experience. (Their lapse into grudging malcontents must surely result in a decline of respect on the part of those with whom they interact through the course of official actions.)

And by extension, failing to aid Canada's general society, in advancing Canada's political position in many areas, in opening up trade opportunities and exposing foreign countries to Canada's culture exchanges, bringing notice to Canada's rich heritage, and in encouraging tourism and foreign student attendance at Canadian universities as well. For these activities and more, this professional group of DFAIT employees has been respected and well compensated.

It ill behooves them now to hold Canada for ransom to their demands. Sneering that government doesn't adequately respect them when they behave more like unruly juveniles in a funk of frustration over parental guidelines they see no reason that they should be expected to pay full attention to themselves. Responding in a manner that pits them against government and the country's well-being. Pouting professionals do themselves no credit.

The sector that most clearly impacts most directly on the country is the Citizenship and Immigration Canada quotient where visa applications have been hugely backlogged in a deliberate effort to create delay and confusion as a backlash to government 'intransigence'. FSOs' snit of noncooperation has caused CIC to bring in temporary workers, exposing them to urgent training processes to enable them to take up the considerable slack in non-delivery of programs.

The union would have it that Treasury Board has placed an insuperable impediment in the way of meaningful binding arbitration. Quite contrary to negotiations having broken down as a result of PAFSO rejecting government's offer to enter back into binding arbitration.