The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers intend to begin a job action today at 4 p.m. EST unless there is an agreement between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Treasury Board.

But in a recent CBSA update on the strike position, the agency said the border would remain open and safe as 90% of frontline border services officers are essential workers and will continue to work in the event of a strike.

“However, travelers and businesses could experience an increase in border wait times, picketing outside CBSA premises, and wearing of union-related accessories,” the update reads. “The CBSA has been actively working to plan for these situations and has developed mitigation strategies to ensure operations will continue.”

The organization encourages travelers crossing the border, including commercial vehicles, to check border wait times on the CBSA website or download the CanBorder wait time app to plan their itineraries.

Union wants contracts, fair pay, job flexibility

On May 24, on behalf of the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), PSAC announced that 96% of members voted in favor of a strike.

According to the union, workers have been without a contract for more than two years. In current negotiations, they seek fair wages, flexible remote work options, equitable retirement benefits, protections, technological change, and improved hours of work.

” The clock is ticking for Trudeau’s Liberal government to work on a fair contract for our members,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC national president, in a news release earlier this week.

Canadian Trucking Alliance still expressed concerns about the potential delays the strike can cause, saying the timing of the job action is ‘particularly problematic’ due to the ongoing volatility challenges the sector faces.