Border workers’ strike averted as tentative deal is reached

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A cross-country strike of border services workers has been averted after the government and the unions representing the workers reached a tentative deal on a new contract.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced the news in a release Tuesday morning. It said the tentative agreement was reached alongside the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU).

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Canada Border Services Agency 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.

Without a contract for over two years, border services employees were 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.

Before the tentative agreement was reached, the strike was scheduled to begin on Friday, June 14 at 12:01 a.m. after being pushed back from last week. Both sides began mediation sessions on June 3.

The full extent of the tentative agreement is to be publicly available once the details have been given to union members on Thursday, June 13, before they vote on whether to accept the deal, the union said.

“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 in the release. “This is a well-deserved victory for our members at CBSA who safeguard our nation’s borders and ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”

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The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said in a release Tuesday that the new collective agreement, upon ratification, will apply to about 11,000 employees.

The tentative deal includes wage enhancements and “other benefits” for border workers, the Treasury Board said.

“This tentative agreement demonstrates that the best agreements are always reached at the bargaining table,” said Treasury Board president Anita Anand. “Border Services employees are critical to the safety and security of our borders and this tentative agreement recognizes the importance of that work while remaining reasonable for taxpayers.”

PSAC said previous 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.

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.

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