Vancouver – Canadian border guards and customs officers voted on Tuesday to go on strike just days earlier than fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be allowed into Canada, unions representing the workers stated, a move that could probably trigger disruptions and harm businesses emerging out of the pandemic-driven economic downturn.
A strike would slow down commercial traffic at the land border, the unions stated, in addition to impact international mail and collection of duties and taxes. However a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated 90% of the front-line border services officers have been recognized as “essential” so will proceed to work within the event of a strike.
Last week, Canada announced plans to permit fully vaccinated People on Aug. 9, and fully vaccinated international travellers beginning on Sept. 7. The border has been shut for non-essential travel for more than 16 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) stated in a joint statement that strike action could begin as soon as Aug. 6 after 8,500 members voted in favour of the action. Contract talks reached an impasse in December 2020, the unions stated.
Prior to the pandemic, tourism was the fifth-largest industry in Canada, contributing C$105 billion ($83.4 billion) to the GDP and providing one in ten jobs, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice president of national affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, stated a strike would compound issues faced by small businesses all through the pandemic – gradual shipping times, lack of customers, rising costs.
“It is not favourable at all for a lot of small businesses relying on either good coming throughout the border or individuals coming throughout the border,” Pohlmann stated, calling the timing of the strike “extremely unfortunate.”
The federal government is “disappointed” that PSAC rejected a “fair offer for its members,” but remains “open to returning to the bargaining table at any time,” a government spokesperson stated in an emailed statement.
CBSA spokesperson Judith Gadbois-St-Cyr said officers have proven their resilience since the starting of the pandemic by helping to prevent the spread of the virus and its variants.
“We expect that our officers will continue to fulfil their duties with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.”
