CBSA Union Warns of Potential June Border Disruptions Following Strike Mandate

The union representing Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers has announced that a potential strike could disrupt Canada’s borders this summer.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reports that 9,000 of its CBSA members have obtained a strike mandate. The union warns of “significant disruptions” at the borders ahead of the busy summer travel season. However, the government notes that most front-line workers would still be required to work.

The union states that its members will be in a legal strike position starting in June, coinciding with the beginning of mediation sessions. They have been without a contract for two years, with key issues including wage parity with other law enforcement agencies and securing remote work options.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated that the government remains committed to ongoing negotiations.

“We know when it comes to CBSA, the work they do is extremely important and extremely difficult,” he said at an unrelated news conference Friday.

“But we also know that the best labour agreements happen at the bargaining table, and that’s exactly where the ministers are focused and we will continue to do that.”

The Treasury Board of Canada has expressed its willingness to continue bargaining. It noted that 90 percent of front-line border employees are classified as essential, meaning they would be required to continue providing services in the event of a strike.