Possible border strike could affect Canadians who plan to cross next month
Canadians could be facing more disruptions and slow downs at the border next month due to a possible strike.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada and its Customs and Immigration Union announced Tuesday its members may strike as soon as August 6, three days before fully vaccinated U.S. Citizens will be able to visit Canada without having to quarantine for two weeks.
"They're really upset that it's come to this and we're being shown this level of disrespect," says Mark Weber, National President of the Customs and Immigration Union.
Approximately 6,800 essential workers at the U.S. Canada order could take job action next month, including 500 workers at the Windsor-Detroit Land Border.
"Windsor is Canada’s busiest commercial port so that would be a huge deal at the Windsor border in terms of slow-downs if we decide to go that way," Weber said.
Only essential services would continue, such as us maintaining the security of Canada.
"Things we wouldn’t have to do would be things like collecting duties and taxes, providing information, that kind of thing"
The Canada border services agency told CTV Windsor, "we will respond quickly to any job action/work disruption in order to maintain the safety and security of our border, ensure compliance with our laws and keep the border open to legitimate travelers and goods."
We expect that our officers will continue to fulfill their duties with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.”
CBSA employees have been without a contract since 2017.
"Our members work over COVID-19 has been nothing short of heroic. We’ve worked through probably the most difficult work circumstances that anyone has lived."
"We are disappointed that PSAC rejected a fair offer for its members that included wage adjustments. We remain open to returning to the bargaining table at any time," said the Treasury Board.
Weber says his members have three demands for their employer:
- address discrimination and workplace violence
- salary parity with other law enforcement
- telework
"Non-uniform workers have mostly worked from home. The job has not suffered at all. Everything’s getting done."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.