Customs Officers wear jeans in protest today
JUN 22, 2004 – CEUDA has been advised that Customs Officers working across Canada, and notably all those working in Quebec, will wear jeans today in protest. 

Government has failed to take border security issues seriously as reflected by:

• Inadequate recognition of Customs Officers (Officers have deserved higher pay since 2000 when they began enforcing the Criminal Code at the border);

• Inadequate allocation of resources.

“Border security is a precondition to effective cross-border trade and national security,” said Ron Moran, CEUDA National President representing 10,000 members of whom 4,200 are uniformed Customs Officers says, “We’re just wondering how much longer we have to put up with hollow promises and false commitments from bureaucrats before the federal Government realizes this and steps up to the plate.”

Moran adds, “Government can say it made border security a priority by investing hundreds of millions of dollars none of it has been an investment in the people required to carry out the work on the ground.”

Government must take the issues of border security more seriously, staring with the inequity of pay faced by Customs Officers.  Until that is done, Canadians, international travellers to Canada, and truckers entering Canada with cargo, had better be patient, it’s going to be long, hot summer, as Customs Officers promise the number and frequency of protests will escalate – this week will be no exception. 

While CEUDA and its members express regret for any inconvenience, affected parties are urged to contact their local Member of Parliament to express their views.

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