Unions, CBSA resume talks following strike mandate
The employer and two unions representing Canadian Border Services Agency employees are back at the table for another round of negotiations, just days after union leaders announced members endorsed a strike mandate.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), representing Canada's border services staff, announced Thursday they have resumed negotiations with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Treasury Board Secretariat.
“The government is clearly concerned about our strike mandate and the possibility of major disruptions at the border,” PSAC national president Chris Aylward said in a statement. “We're going back to the table with an open mind, but we've been crystal clear that if they want to avoid a strike, they need to bring a new mandate to address major workplace issues.”
The resumed negotiations follow a Public Interest Commission report with recommendations for parties to reach a deal. Unions can still call for a strike on Aug. 6 if a deal is not reached.
Union leaders warned this week a strike could cause significant delays at border crossings and further disrupt the resumption of business, including parcel deliveries and commercial traffic, when Canada reopens its border to vaccinated American travellers on Aug. 9.
In Windsor, the strike mandate would affect 533 members at the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-windsor Tunnel.
“The vast majority of trade and commerce comes through our port (in Windsor),” said Ken Turner, former Windsor CIU branch president, now second national vice-president for CIU.
“We're a vital link. Our workforce is a workforce under fatigue. At one point, Michigan was one of the worst affected states for COVID-19. There was a lot of anxiety, officers were getting sick, but we kept things going here in Windsor, and if we hadn't the entire well-being of the country would have been affected.”
PSAC and CIU together represent more than 8,500 border services employees at marine, land and airport points of entry. Inland enforcement, intelligence, investigators and hearings officers are also union members.
About 90 per cent of border services officers are considered essential, a CBSA spokesperson said in a statement, meaning many people staffing border ports of entry cannot completely strike. But job action can affect non-essential duties of essential staff, like the collection of taxes or duties.
About 2,600 of the union's 8,500 members are considered non-essential and could take full strike action.
Votes were held between June 16 and July 23 and union members are in strike position as of Aug. 6, leaders said Tuesday.
A CBSA spokesperson said the agency will respond to any job action to maintain the safety of the Canadian border.
“We expect that our officers will continue to fulfil their duties with the highest level of integrity and professionalism,” Judith Gadbois-st.cyr said in an emailed statement.
Union leaders said their members have been without a contract for more than three years, and are seeking better workplace protections and parity with other Canadian law enforcement.