USJE was not consulted or made aware of the latest employer communication sent to employees on October 1, 2024.
The Courts Administrative Service (CAS) was not initially listed as part of the Budget 2023 planned reduced spending of $14.1 billion over the next five years, starting in 2023-24, and by $4.1 billion annually after that.
USJE is cautiously optimistic that management is not openly speaking about job cuts, but rather is looking to implement a ‘slowdown in hiring in certain areas’. On this issue, management also appears to recognize the need to ensure that employee workload remain manageable.
USJE is also in agreement that cost saving measures such as ‘online training and professional development activities’ and other means such as remote work, where possible, can be implemented in order to protect the crucial services provided by CAS employees.
It is our position that Budget cuts should not come at the cost of jeopardizing public services – such as Canadians’ access to justice – or increase already unmanageable workloads experienced by many of its employees in regional offices.