The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union has issued a statement advising that Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike, and possible strike action could begin in June.
The union, CBSA and Treasury Board last met at a Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearing on April 22. The Commission is expected to release its report containing non-binding recommendations to reach an agreement before mediated negotiations take place on June 3rd. Workers will be in a legal strike position following the release of the report.
The strike is expected to impact non-essential CBSA operations, and while fewer than 1% of shipments undergo inspection, it’s anticipated that general processing times for all CBSA clearances will likely increase. Consequently, border congestion emerges as a primary concern, affecting land crossings, airports, seaports, and rail entry equally.
The threat of a strike by Customs workers added to a potential strike by Canadian rail workers means significant disruption to Canadian importers. Livingston is actively monitoring these ongoing disputes and will provide updates as new information is released.