UNE was advised on May 22, 2025 by the employer that there would be job cuts at Passport Canada, as the government aims to elminate 800 term positions. Members were later informed their last day would be June 27th, 2025. This is an unfortunate turn of events as Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would be capping, not cutting the public service. These cuts, along with 280 cuts at CRA, will directly affect the quality of services for Canadians.
As a result, UNE held a National Passport Calls to allow members to ask questions and receive support from the union.
Thank you to all members who signed up for the group grievance. Click here to add your name to the group grievance.
Passport Group Grievance
UNE filed the following grievance on June 13, 2025
Grievance Details:
This is a group grievance against Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada alleging a violation of article 19 (No Discrimination).
In making the announcement on May 22nd, 2025 the employer (ESDC/SC )stated that they applied an "equity lens" when terminating 800 term employees.
The "equity lens" demographic targeted is obviously based on race, creed, colour, national or ethnic origin, people with physical and mental disability some of whom have requested accommodation and people with membership or activity with the union.
This targeted selection process is both systemically and individually discriminatory and is a violation of article 19 of the relevant collective agreement and the a violation of the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Therefore, UNE is filing this Equity Lens Termination Group Grievance on behalf of those members impacted across Canada as those impacted disproportionately come from a demographic that is a protected or prohibited ground and these terminations amount to systemic and individual discrimination on various grounds.
Date on which each act, omission or other matter giving rise to the grievance occurred:
May 22, 2025
Corrective action requested:
- To be reinstated for the remainder of their term
- To be made whole
- To Receive damages under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Resources
National Call Videos