Originally published on June 4, 2024 on RealAgriculture
By Kelvin Heppner
Over nine thousand workers with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will be in a legal position to go on strike as of Thursday, June 6.
The border workers, who are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, have been without a contract since June 2022.
CBSA says the border will remain open if a strike occurs, as 90 per cent of frontline border services staff are deemed essential workers, but the agency says travellers and businesses should prepare for delays and picketing at border crossings. It’s expected essential workers would “work to rule,” adding to wait times.
In a letter to trucking companies, customs brokers, and parcel delivery services last week, the union said a strike “could very well mean dramatic disruptions to the flow of goods, services and individuals entering Canada. In some cases, even leaving Canada.”
Both sides entered into mediated negotiations on Monday, but there have been no public updates, as of late Tuesday.
The union is seeking wage parity for its members in line with other law enforcement agencies across the country, including a “25-and-out” retirement policy. Access to telework and protections from contracting out services to automated systems, students, and other service providers are also on PSAC’s list of key issues at the bargaining table.
CBSA staff last walked off the job in 2021, when a day-long strike caused lineups at border crossings and airports. A deal was reached after a 36-hour bargaining session.
