Canada's border workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action

Canada's border workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action which may lead to possible disruptions at airports and land crossings over summer, the border union said Friday, reported Xinhua.

According to a statement from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), more than 9,000 members working for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have secured an overwhelming strike mandate which could lead to significant disruptions to the flow of goods, services and people at Canadian ports of entry as the busy summer season approaches.

Members voted 96 percent in favour of taking job action during strike votes held April 10 to May 23, the statement said.

Key issues in this round of bargaining include fair wages that are aligned with other law enforcement agencies across the country, flexible telework and remote work options, equitable retirement benefits and stronger protections around discipline, technological change and hours of work, the statement said.

"We're committed to reaching a fair contract that protects workers and improves working conditions for our members," said Chris Aylward, PSAC National President. "As summer travel season nears, we hope the Trudeau Liberal government is making these negotiations a top priority. The window to avert a strike is closing quickly."

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, the statement said.

In 2021, job action taken by CBSA personnel nearly brought commercial cross-border traffic to a standstill, causing major delays at airports and borders across the country and a marathon 36-hour bargaining session to reach an agreement, according to the statement.