Union wants parity for border officers
Canada Border Services Agency officers are the country’s first line of defence against drugs, guns and terrorism and they deserve wage parity with other law enforcement agencies, the union representing the officers said Wednesday.
“When it comes to pay, benefits, you name it … we are dead last,” said Mark Weber, first national vice-president of the Customs and Immigration Union.
He said border officers in Niagara, for example, earn approximately $25,000 less a year than a Niagara Regional Police officer.
The union earlier this month paid to erect billboards in a number of border cities including Niagara Falls, calling for fair treatment for its members who have been working without a contract since June 2014.
The billboards read: “We Keep Canada’s Borders Safe and We Deserve to be Treated Fairly.”
A group of CBSA employees from Niagara, Hamilton and Toronto gathered on Bridge Street in Niagara Falls Wednesday, in front of a billboard, for a demonstration in support of ongoing national bargaining efforts toward a new collective agreement.
“We’re asking for a contract in line with what all other law enforcement gets paid,” Weber said. “We’re still talking but we’re getting nowhere fast.”
A spokesperson for CBSA said it would be improper for the agency to comment during the negotiation process and directed further inquiries to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
“Contract negotiations are ongoing between the Treasury Board of Canada, the employer and members of CIU,” said Patrizia Giolti. “It would not be appropriate for CBSA to comment on negotiations.”
The CIU is a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and represents 10,000 CBSA employees across Canada.