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Border Workers Issue Work-to-Rule Strike Notice

Wednesday, 4 August 2021 at 14:51

By Linda Morgan

Travelers should expect delays at border crossings and airports.

About 9,000 Canadian Border Service Agency workers are preparing to begin job action on Friday. 

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says together with the Customs and Immigration Union, the government received notice yesterday. 

"We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract with the government," said Chris Aylward, Public Service Alliance of Canada national president. "Treasury Board and CBSA have been clear they aren’t prepared to address critical workplace issues at CBSA at the bargaining table."

Starting Friday, work-to-rule strike activity will take place at all land borders, airports, commercial shipping ports, postal facilities and headquarters in the country. 

Agents will only perform the minimum amount of work specified in their contracts.

The disruption comes just days before the Canadian border will re-open to fully vaccinated American tourists, which becomes effective on August 9th. 

Union members, who have been without a contract for three years, voted to strike late last month, seeking better protection against harassment and discrimination. 

The two sides will return to the bargaining table on Friday, but if a new contract isn't negotiated, work-to-rule action will begin at 6:00 a.m. that day across the country. 

The Public Service Alliance of Canada warns that the action may result in long delays at border crossings and airports. 

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