Following ongoing negotiations, the Union representing nearly 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees has voted in favour of strike action.
This vote comes as the Canadian Government recently announced plans to reopen the border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens, without the need for a two-week quarantine period on August 9, 2021. This potential strike action by the members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and its Customs and Immigration Union (PSAC-CIU) could take effect on August 6, 2021, just three days prior to the scheduled border opening date.
Members of the PSAC-CIU and the Treasury Board have been without a contract for almost three years and in December 2020 talks between the two sides broke off. Remote work policies, salary parity with other Canadian law enforcement workers, and protections against harassment and discrimination are the central issues in the negotiations.
Many border workers are classified as essential and could take work-to-rule action, however, approximately 2,600 members could take full strike action in the essential services agreement.
We will continue to monitor this situation and will provide updates as they are available to ensure that you are aware of this issue that could impact commercial traffic at borders.
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