Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Canada is set to open its border to Americans in less than 2 weeks, but there is a new wrinkle. Thousands of border officers have voted to strike.
The two unions representing nearly nine thousand Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees announced Tuesday that the majority of their members have voted in favor of a strike.
"Union members could go on strike as early as August 6," says Tiffany Hendsbee with CTV News in Toronto. "If they strike, we're talking about delays at the border. It's going to be slower coming into Canada." The border will reopen to fully vaccinated Americans just a few days later, August 9.
"Of the nine thousand workers, only 2600 are officers that can go on strike. The rest are considered essential workers," said Hendsbee. Canada Border Services Agency employees have been working without a contract since 2018.
"We're talking not just about the possibility of a strike, but if they continued on the job, they could engage in work-to-rule action which could slow things down even if all of the workers are still there." The bottom line, said Hendsbee, "you're going to see some big delays trying to get into Canada."
The unions' members, who have been without a contract since June 2018, include border service officers at airports, land entry points, marine ports and commercial ports of entry, inland enforcement officers, intelligence officers, investigators, trade officers, hearings officers and non-uniformed members.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated recently that it has been a tough year for border guards. "We recognize that there have been challenges but we're going to work with them. We're hopeful that there won't be any disruptions."
The unions are fighting for three things. Salary parity with other law enforcement officers in Canada. Protections against discrimination and harassment. And a remote work policy.