Details of agreement with federal government yet to be reached
UDATED: June 11, 2024
More than 9,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) who work for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will not be striking, it was announced Tuesday.
Initially set on June 7, the unions moved the scheduled labour move to June 14 as mediation talks were extended to reach an agreement. No details of the agreement have been released yet, Global News reported.
"Our bargaining team has been working around the clock to secure the best contract for our members, and this tentative agreement is a testament to their incredible hard work and dedication," PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa said.
Why were unionized CBSA workers striking?
Last week,Chrystia Freeland, minister of finance, said the federal government was “very focused” on how the looming strike would impact the economy.
“It is something our government is very seized with. Very focused on. The parties are at the table working hard and our view is, the best deals are reached at the table,” Freeland told reporters when asked how a border strike could impact Canada’s economy, according to Global News.
PSAC-CIU members at CBSA include border services officers at airports, land entry points, marine ports, and commercial ports of entry, inland enforcement officers, intelligence officers, investigators, trade officers, and non-uniformed headquarters staff. They have been without contract for two years.
The workers were seeking:
- “fair wages that are aligned with other law enforcement agencies across the country”
- flexible telework and remote work options
- “equitable” retirement benefits
- stronger protections around discipline, technological change and hours of work
“Our members have overwhelmingly told us they are ready to fight for equitable retirement, fair wages and to make CBSA a better place to work,” said Mark Weber, CIU national president. “Now it’s time for the government to deliver a fair contract for CBSA employees.”
In August 2021, border workers – including CBSA personnel – launched work-to-rule actions that “nearly brought commercial cross-border traffic to a standstill, causing major delays at airports and borders across the country,” noted PSAC.
Currently, PSAC and CIU – in collaboration with the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) – are initiating a study to explore potential cancer risks among Canadian border workers, according to a CBC report. The research addresses long-time agent concerns that long-term exposure to environmental pollutants, especially diesel fumes from freight trucks, may be impacting the health of these employees.
