Over 8,500 unionized Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers may begin work-to-rule job action on Friday, just days before border restrictions are scheduled to ease for fully vaccinated Americans.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) have served strike notice to the federal government.
“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 PSAC National President Chris Aylward in a media release. “Treasury Board and CBSA have been clear they aren’t prepared to address critical workplace issues at CBSA at the bargaining table.”
Unions went back to the bargaining table with government representatives on July 29, after a strike mandate was approved on July 27.
The unions cited workplace morale and parity with other law enforcement agencies as the key sticking points.
If a deal isn't reached, only essential portions of the job, such as safety and security, will be done.
On Wednesday, the unions warned of long lineups and lengthy delays at border crossings and airports if job action begins.
The two sides returned to the bargaining table again on Wednesday but the work-to-rule action will come into effect at 6 a.m. Friday if a new contract isn't negotiated.
The Government of Canada said it's committed to taking constructive steps to advance negotiations, stating that a mediator will help with the negotiation process.
Unionized CBSA employees have been working without a contract for over three years.
-With files from Melanie Irwin and Mark Brown