A possible strike from Canadian border workers has been delayed to June 12 at the earliest, after the federal government and union agreed to take more time to come to a new collective bargaining agreement.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) — which represents the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) as well as public sector workers across Canada — and Canada’s Treasury Board started mediated negotiations on June 3, in hopes of reaching a new deal with border agents. The CBSA had previously set a June 6 deadline to come to an agreement, threatening to take part in a “work-to-rule” strike, where they would perform only the minimum duties required of them as essential workers.
That June 6 deadline has since been extended by six days, Reuters reports, with the Treasury Board saying that “discussions have been productive.”
“We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and reasonable for members of the Border Services Group as quickly as possible,” the Treasury Board said.
A work-to-rule strike from border agents would have wide-ranging impacts on billions of dollars worth of trade in and out of the country, with the potential to bring freight truck traffic at crossings to a standstill. The CBSA is currently pushing for higher wages akin to what other Canadian law enforcement agencies receive, in addition to earlier retirement benefits.
