Customs Officers across the country are furious. Officers in Windsor have decided to act and set up an information picket to both vent their frustrations and let Canadians know how they feel about the decision.

"Officers want and need to be classified in their own group at the bargaining table," said Marie-Claire Coupal, President, Windsor District Branch of the Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise. "Customs Officers do not want to be classified as program administrators in what is called the PM group, they see themselves as PEACE OFFICERS or, more generally, as law enforcement officers."

"That Customs Officers are in the business of law enforcement has never been more true than now," add Coupal.

With implementation of Bill C-18 at Windsor’s Customs operations in the summer 2000, Customs Officers were called upon to enforce Canada’s Criminal Code to detain and arrest DRUNK DRIVERS, PERSONS WITH OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, THOSE IN POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY, and CHILD ABDUCTORS; not to forget continuing to detain and arrest for illegal substances, smuggling, and other Customs infractions.

Since September 11, 2001, Canada Customs has been promising increased border efficiency; for example, there has been much talk about exports checks, Canadian and American officers changing positions and politicians galore have come out of the woodwork to visit Customs operations at the tunnel and bridge. And despite all this new found attention at the border, there has been little attention paid to staff at the border.

Coupal continues, "When will this government start recognizing that Customs Officers are not program administrators? Customs Officers are law enforcement officers. And with recognition, they must be remunerated properly and appropriately for enforcing more than 70 laws at our borders."

"Program Administrators see shift-work and related matters, which Customs Officers must live with due to the nature of their job, as small and even non-issues," explains Coupal. "Program Administrators don’t need bullet-proof vests for their work, they don’t need batons and pepper spray, they don’t need use of force training to enforce the law. But Customs Officers do."

Customs Officers are placing their lives at risk every day. They have worked very hard to train for the right to enforce the Criminal Code of Canada and now they deserve to be recognized for their contributions.

MADD Spokesperson Linda Lafarge said MADD is in full support of Customs Officers and the work they have done and wishes they will continue. Sadly Senior Customs bureaucrats in Ottawa don’t seem to see it that way.

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