{"id":83703,"date":"2021-08-06T13:26:15","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T17:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/?p=83703"},"modified":"2021-08-06T13:26:31","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T17:26:31","slug":"border-workers-begin-work-to-rule-action-as-negotiations-with-government-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/canada\/border-workers-begin-work-to-rule-action-as-negotiations-with-government-continue\/","title":{"rendered":"Border workers begin work-to-rule action as negotiations with government continue"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Border
Unions have warned that the job action will have a ‘dramatic impact’ on the border reopening as well as Canada’s supply chain. (Peter Power\/The Canadian Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Border service officers have begun work-to-rule action while unions and the government continue to negotiate a new contract.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Border workers vote to strike, putting Canada\u2019s reopening plans at risk<\/a><\/p>\n

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) tweeted this morning\u00a0that bargaining took place throughout the night and into the early morning, but a deal has yet to be reached.<\/p>\n

<\/section>\n

“In the meantime, work-to-rule actions have started across the country,” the tweet said.<\/p>\n

While operating\u00a0under work-to-rule,\u00a0border officers could stop collecting\u00a0taxes and duties, ask\u00a0travellers more questions than usual and\u00a0fully inspect\u00a0truck manifests, slowing down\u00a0processing times as a result.<\/p>\n

The union’s\u00a0members \u2014 who have been without a contract since June 2018 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Treasury Board Secretariat told CBC that negotiations are still ongoing and the government “is still at the table and will not walk away.”<\/p>\n

President of the Treasury Board\u00a0Jean-Yves Duclos\u00a0tweeted Friday morning that he is “proud of the work of our negotiating team.”<\/p>\n

“They’ve been at the table all night and we’re still hoping to come to an agreement that is fair and reasonable,” he said.<\/p>\n

PSAC and the\u00a0Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) represent roughly\u00a08,500 border workers. The work-to-rule action will see agents performing only the minimum amount of work required by their contracts.<\/p>\n

The work-to-rule strike comes just days before\u00a0Canada is set to\u00a0begin\u00a0easing border restrictions for fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents entering Canada for non-essential purposes.<\/p>\n

That change goes into effect on Monday, Aug. 9.<\/p>\n

Members of the unions voted to strike in late July. The unions have been fighting primarily for three things: salary parity with other law enforcement workers in Canada, better protections against harassment and discrimination, and a remote work policy for non-uniformed members.<\/p>\n

The strike would have a “dramatic impact” on the border reopening and on Canada’s supply chains, the unions have warned.<\/p>\n

The border will remain open, since 90 per cent of border agents have been identified as essential workers. However, travellers can expect long lineups and delays at airports and border crossings, the unions say.<\/p>\n

\"CBSA
A sign in support of the union representing border services workers is shown in a vehicle near the Ambassador Bridge on Friday, Aug. 6. (Katerina Georgieva\/CBC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A spokesperson for PSAC told CBC that the work-to-rule action will continue until a deal is reached.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for\u00a0CBSA told CBC\u00a0News that the job action likely\u00a0will result in delays at the border and travellers should plan for longer\u00a0processing times.<\/p>\n

“The Agency thanks travellers and businesses for their patience,” the spokesperson said in an email.<\/p>\n

Delays expected at\u00a0busiest Canada-U.S. border crossing<\/h2>\n

Alissa Howe, president of\u00a0CIU Local 18 in Windsor, Ont., said earlier this week that border officers may\u00a0be doing “more questioning, more examination” of drivers crossing the border, and that they may have fewer lines open.<\/p>\n

The Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor\u00a0and Detroit is the busiest border crossing between Canada and the U.S.,\u00a0carrying\u00a0one quarter of all trade between the two countries.<\/p>\n

“We’ll be asking if you have any pet, plant, meat, animal products, if you have a pet with you, if you have a vaccination certificate,” said Howe.<\/p>\n

Rakesh Naidu, president and CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the free flow of goods and services would be affected\u00a0by job action.<\/p>\n

“Even though the border may not be fully closed, it will lead to delays and the delays will cost us,” Naidu said.<\/p>\n

Truck driver David Ferreira\u00a0reported from\u00a0the Ambassador Bridge this morning that traffic had slowed to a crawl.<\/p>\n

Ferreira said crossing the bridge usually takes 15 to 20 minutes\u00a0but\u00a0he’d been left waiting for half an hour and predicted\u00a0it could take three.<\/p>\n

“We’re just moving slightly here a little bit, but due to the strike here, traffic’s backed right up and over the bridge onto the freeway,” he said.<\/p>\n

CBC<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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