We, the undersigned CEIU members and supporters from across PSAC — including current members, former members, and retirees — call on PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa, CEIU Trustee Shimen Fayad, and Administrator Guy Boulanger to hold a live video meeting with CEIU members no later than Friday, October 2, 2026.

We recognize that discussions or decisions surrounding the trusteeship may have taken place in camera, and that certain confidential details may not be available for public discussion. However, an in-camera process does not prevent union leadership from speaking directly to members about what has happened, what trusteeship means for CEIU, and what members should expect going forward.

The timing of this decision has also raised serious democratic concerns. Next week, CEIU’s newly elected National Vice-Presidents were expected to be sworn in at the CEIU National Triennial Convention. Members had recently exercised their democratic right to elect new leadership and reasonably expected that leadership to be given an opportunity to take office, assess the problems facing the component, and work toward solutions.

We recognize that serious concerns may have required action. However, trusteeship was not the only possible course available. Members deserve an explanation of why this option was chosen at this particular time and why the newly elected leadership was not given an opportunity, with appropriate oversight and support if necessary, to address the problems identified.

If the trusteeship results in the postponement or cancellation of the CEIU National Triennial Convention, PSAC should also accept responsibility for the reasonable costs directly resulting from that decision. Those costs should not be downloaded onto CEIU locals, delegates, members, or other union bodies that made travel and other commitments in good faith based on the scheduled convention. This should include reasonable non-refundable or unavoidable costs arising from the postponement or cancellation.

Members deserve more than written statements, prerecorded messages, or second-hand information. They deserve the opportunity to hear directly from those responsible for making and implementing this significant decision and to ask reasonable questions in real time.

CEIU is not the first PSAC sub-organization to be placed into trusteeship. Trusteeship is an established process within our union, and previous experience should provide lessons about the importance of communication, transparency, member engagement, and maintaining confidence throughout that process. CEIU members should not have to wait in uncertainty while those lessons already exist.

We are asking Sharon DeSousa, Shimen Fayad, and Guy Boulanger to:

• hold a live virtual membership meeting open to CEIU members;
• explain, to the fullest extent possible, the reasons CEIU was placed into trusteeship;
• explain why trusteeship was chosen at this particular time and what other options were considered;
• explain why the newly elected CEIU leadership was not given an opportunity, with appropriate oversight or conditions if necessary, to address the concerns facing the component;
• explain what trusteeship means for members, locals, regional representation, committees, and labour-management relations;
• outline the immediate priorities and anticipated next steps;
• explain how members will be represented and consulted throughout the trusteeship;
• confirm that PSAC will assume responsibility for reasonable, non-refundable or unavoidable costs directly resulting from any postponement or cancellation of the CEIU National Triennial Convention caused by the trusteeship;
• ensure meaningful membership consultation before Deputy Trustees are selected or appointed;
• if Deputy Trustee appointments are made before that consultation can occur, explain the selection process directly to members and provide a meaningful opportunity for member input into their roles and the ongoing structure of the trusteeship;
• explain the criteria used to select Deputy Trustees and how those appointments reflect CEIU’s regions, workplaces, diversity, experience, and the democratic choices recently made by members; and
• provide members with a meaningful opportunity to ask questions live and receive direct answers.

Confidentiality surrounding an in-camera discussion should not become a barrier to transparency with the membership.

Trusteeship may temporarily change CEIU’s governance structure, but it should not remove the membership’s voice. Deputy Trustees may exercise significant responsibilities on behalf of our union. Members should therefore have meaningful input into their selection, understand the responsibilities assigned to them, and know how they will remain accountable to the membership.

CEIU members played a significant role in the last national strike and may again be called upon to organize, mobilize, and take strike action. Asking members to do that while their component remains under trusteeship raises legitimate concerns about trust, confidence, and democratic participation. If PSAC expects CEIU members to stand together in the next fight, members need to know that their voices are being heard now.

This concern extends beyond CEIU. PSAC members across components have an interest in a strong, democratic, and engaged CEIU. Our components depend on one another during bargaining, mobilization, political action, and strikes. What happens within one of PSAC’s largest components can affect the strength of the union as a whole.

A strong union cannot ask members to show up only when it needs their participation. Leadership must also show up for members during difficult and uncertain periods.

CEIU belongs to its members, and PSAC belongs to all of us. Whatever challenges brought our union to this point, members deserve transparency, consultation, accountability, and a direct voice in determining the path forward.

We therefore call on Sharon DeSousa, Shimen Fayad, and Guy Boulanger to hold a live video meeting with CEIU members by Friday, October 2, 2026, with a meaningful opportunity for members to ask questions and receive direct answers, to ensure that members have a meaningful voice in the selection, role, and ongoing accountability of Deputy Trustees, and to ensure that CEIU members, locals, and delegates are not left carrying costs created by decisions arising from the trusteeship.