CUPE: New federal plan for front-line responders excludes RCMP operators

Ottawa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE 104 is calling on the federal government to immediately correct a grave omission in its recent announcement to recognize public safety occupations under the Public Service Superannuation Act (PSSA). Despite being the first point of contact for Canadians in crisis and the vital link between the public and police, RCMP Public Safety Communicators have been excluded.

These professionals — the RCMP Telecommunications Operators and Intercept Monitors — save lives every day. Working in a live, high-pressure operational environment, they coordinate responses to shootings, abductions, mass-casualty events, and border-security incidents, guiding police officers through dangerous and unpredictable situations. They also support national security investigations that prevent violent crime and terrorism from taking hold in Canada.

“It’s incomprehensible that the government can say we’re not a public safety occupation when that’s exactly what we are,” said Kathleen Hippern, President of CUPE 104. “Our members handle life-and-death emergencies every day — yet they are denied the same recognition and retirement protections as their counterparts in other federal public safety roles.”

A recent announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney included early-retirement provisions for certain high-risk and high-stress federal occupations. Yet, RCMP Communicators — the only female-dominated group in Canada’s federal public-safety system — were left out, despite years of advocacy from CUPE 104. The Treasury Board’s decision not only perpetuates gender inequity but also erodes morale, dignity, and retention within a profession already under severe strain.

RCMP Operational Communications Centres across the country are facing critical staffing shortages, with some operating at less than half capacity. The resulting burnout, turnover, and delayed emergency responses put both officers and the public at risk. Recognition under the PSSA would help stabilize staffing, improve recruitment, and acknowledge the mental and emotional toll of this essential work.

“Whether it’s a 911 emergency or a threat intercepted before it reaches Canadians, our members are the first line of defence. Leaving them out of public safety recognition isn’t just unfair — it’s dangerous.”

CUPE 104 is urging the government of Canada to amend the legislation before it moves through Parliament to include RCMP Public Safety Communicators in the public safety occupation classification.