Just as the Canada-U.S. border will start to re-open to fully vaccinated U.S. tourists in a matter of weeks, Canada Border Service Agency employees could be taking job action as soon as August 6.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada and its Customs Immigration Union that represents close to 9,000 workers say they have received a strike mandate from their membership. The strike could come as early as three days before the border re-opens.
The union warns it could lead to a delay in travelers coming into Canada as well as Canada Post deliveries. They are calling on the federal government to return to the bargaining table, saying they’ve been negotiating for three years and some critical workplace issues have not been addressed.
The CBSA says about 90 percent of border service officers will not be able to take job action as they have been deemed essential.