Border workers strike ‘on hold’ as negotiations continue

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A strike involving about 9,000 people working for the Canada Border Services Agency is on hold until at least next week.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada said in a media release late Friday afternoon that talks with the federal government would continue until Wednesday in an effort to reach a new deal.

“Picket lines will not be in place until further notice,” the release said.

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About a dozen workers were waiting to load a bus destined for a picket line near the border crossing in Cornwall when the decision was shared.

“This is good news,” said PSAC national executive vice-president Alex Silas, who added that all rallies would also be postponed.

“It means that the threat of us going out has created some sort of movement at the table … We might be back on after June 12. Talks might break down again.”

At any point in a potential strike, Silas said PSAC would be “willing to talk.”

The Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada said in a statement Friday afternoon that the government was pleased that PSAC had committed to continue negotiations.

“To date, discussions have been productive, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and reasonable for members of the Border Services Group as quickly as possible,” the statement said.

Where would strike action take place?

PSAC and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), which represents the more than 9,000 employees who could go on strike, have said the strike could lead to “significant disruptions” to the flow of goods, services and travellers this summer.

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The negotiations cover all border services agents at Canada’s land borders and airports.

According to the federal government’s website, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for 107 land border crossings. The Canada-United States border is the longest in the world, spanning 8,891 kilometres.

What could a strike look like?

PSAC said job action by Canada Border Services Agency staff in 2021 “nearly brought commercial cross-border traffic to a standstill” and caused “major delays” at airports and borders. It said a “marathon 36-hour bargaining session” was needed to reach a deal.

During the last strike, the union called for a “work-to-rule” strike, where employees strictly follow the rules of their job, which can be time-consuming. The government deemed it unlawful, noting that essential officers could not intentionally slow down their work.

“We had extreme slowdowns at many of our ports of entry,” CIU national president Mark Weber said. “Places like Windsor, Sarnia, Douglas, a lot of our large borders, the lineups were up to 10 hours. We had trucks running out of fuel waiting in line to cross the border.”

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This time, some officers could decide to take part in “work-to-rule” on their own, though the union won’t be promoting that kind of action.

PSAC has not shared what a strike could look like from its perspective. Action is expected to be more obvious at land borders than at airports.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has indicated that 90 per cent of front-line border officers are “essential,” meaning they will continue to work during a strike. However, outside working hours, these employees can join picket lines.

Silas said different actions were being planned across Canada before they were paused Friday, adding that the strike had been expected to run throughout the weekend.

“Strikes can take a lot of different shapes and forms and we’ve definitely gotten creative with this one,” Silas said.

What do border workers want?

CBSA workers represented by PSAC-CIU include officers at airports, land borders, marine ports and commercial ports, as well as inland enforcement officers, intelligence officers, investigators, trade officers and non-uniformed headquarters staff.

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Without a contract for over two years, border services employees are seeking wage parity with other law-enforcement agencies, like the RCMP, as well as job security, flexible telework arrangements for those who can work from home and a commitment to better retirement benefits.

“Every round it’s the same song and dance and long-winded explanations as to why we have to wait longer. It’s not acceptable anymore,” Weber previously told this newspaper. “We’re short, we estimate, between 2,000 and 3,000 officers countrywide. Our members are always asked to do more with less.”

According to PSAC, 96 per cent of members voted to strike during voting sessions held from April 10 to May 23. The Border Services Group was in a legal strike position as of June 6.

Are the unions and the government close to reaching a deal?

The federal government and the border services bargaining team began mediation sessions on June 3.

“We are still hopeful that we can reach an agreement to avoid strike action and any potential delays at Canada’s borders,” PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa stated. “But the clock is ticking for Trudeau’s Liberal government to get to work on a fair contract for our members.”

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What has the government said about a strike?

In a news release published on June 5, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said it was “disappointed” that PSAC had threatened labour disruptions when the government was “ready and willing to negotiate.”

The government said that, in the event of a strike, officers occupying essential services positions, necessary for the safety or security of the public, must continue to provide “uninterrupted border services.”

“While the government fully respects the right of employees to gather and demonstrate lawfully, unlawful job action will not be tolerated,” the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said.

Addressing ongoing bargaining, it said negotiations are “a process of give and take.”

“The government is prepared to make concessions, but there needs to be movement on both sides,” the government stated.

How much would workers get paid during a strike?

During its last convention, PSAC members voted to raise the daily strike pay from $75 to $100. The new rate will apply in the case of a CBSA strike.

CIU will also provide members a top-up of $50 a day.

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Can PSAC members cross borders as travellers during a CBSA strike?

​​In an email blast on Friday, DeSousa urged members to join a picket line near them and contact their union’s regional office to find out how they could help.

“PSAC expects members to respect our (border services) picket lines,” she said. “Alternate travel arrangements should be considered until a tentative agreement is reached.”

The union head said that, if a strike occurs, all border crossings, including international airports with domestic flights and train stations with cross-border connections, would be considered “active strike locations.”

“Show your solidarity and keep our lines strong by dropping off food or supplies at your closest picket line,” DeSousa said. “(Border services) members have been there for us time and time again — now it’s our turn to support them.”

What do trade organizations think?

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters said in a news release that a strike would slow down commercial traffic, impact international travel, mail and parcel deliveries, and disturb the collection of duties and taxes on goods entering the country.

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Calling on all parties to “find a resolution as soon as possible,” it said the movement could affect the “$3.1 billion in manufactured goods crossing our borders each day,” through both imports and exports.

“Extended delays will disrupt operations and production schedules, harming manufacturers, and their workers,” said Dennis Dabry, the group’s president and CEO. “Labour-related disruptions impacting the transport of goods are no longer the exception and becoming the rule.

“We need the federal government to take a proactive approach to preventing these disruptions and protecting manufacturing access to critical supply chain infrastructure.”

In a news release, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce also expressed its concern, stating that it had sent letters to Weber and Treasury Board president Anita Anand outlining “concerns for the business community of Windsor-Essex and other impacted regions.”

The organization said it was worried about impacts to businesses, like the automotive sector, delays and congestion at border crossings, and the reputational damage to Canada as a “reliable trade partner.”

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“Any strike by PSAC-CIU workers is going to have a major impact in our region, especially for local businesses,” president and CEO Rakesh Naidu said. “Our priority on this issue is to make sure that goods, services, and people are able to move across the border as efficiently as possible.”

Silas said he called on organizations to reach out to Anand and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to “let them know to get their act together.”

“That’s what it’s gonna take to avoid the disruptions that’ll go along with a strike,” he said.

“Our intent is not to inconvenience anyone, to affect people in their days as they’re trying to travel,” Silas said, noting that he hoped the public respected any of the union’s picket lines. “Our goal isn’t to affect the public.”

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