Over 9,000 Canadian border agents have ratified a new four-year labor agreement, ensuring stability at border crossings until June 2026.
Labor Agreement Ratified
Canadian border agents, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada and Customs and Immigration Union, have overwhelmingly approved a new four-year labor agreement. The announcement came on July 4, with the government of Canada confirming the ratification.
The new labor deal, which received more than 90% approval from voting members, will be in effect from June 2022 to June 2026. The exact number of participating members in the ratification vote remains undisclosed.
Negotiations and Strike Avoidance
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the union reached a tentative agreement on June 11, following nine days of mediated discussions. This agreement comes after the Canada Border Services Agency’s represented members had been operating without a contract for two years.
A potential strike, initially scheduled for June 7, was averted as negotiations continued. The strike could have resulted in traffic congestion at over two dozen border crossings and extended freight processing times between the U.S. and Canada. This situation is reminiscent of the potential impact of a rail strike on North American supply chains.
Details of the Agreement
The ratified agreement includes a compounded wage increase of 15.73% for the represented members, along with provisions for shift scheduling and leave time.
In addition to a 3.5% wage increase awarded in 2022, workers will receive an extra 1.25%. Furthermore, a 2.8% raise will be added to the 3% raises given in 2023.
While union members were initially set to receive 2% raises this year, the new deal will add another 0.25% to this figure. Similarly, 2% raises are scheduled for 2025. This agreement ensures a stable working environment for border agents and smooth operations at Canadian border crossings for the next four years.
The new labor agreement for Canadian border agents sets the stage for harmonious operations at border crossings until June 2026. This is a significant step in combatting labor shortages in supply chain and logistics.
