CBSA Workers Taking Part In Strike Votes

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers are calling for a fair contract after more than three years of negotiations.

Employees held an information picket and protest at Port Saint John on Friday morning to voice their concerns and express their frustrations.

Joey Dunphy is the 3rd national vice-president of the Customs and Immigration Union, which represents the thousands of workers.

Dunphy said after years of trying to reach an agreement, there has been no significant movement on some of their key issues.

“It surrounds getting parities with other federal law enforcement agencies. We want to be treated with respect, we want to have the same protection against discipline and harassment,” Dunphy said in an interview.

Dunphy said the federal government has sung the praises of CBSA workers throughout the pandemic but is unwilling to negotiate at the bargaining table.

As a law enforcement agency, Dunphy said his members should have access to the same benefits as other federal enforcement agencies.

“It’s important that we start applying pressure on the government just to make sure that we reach a fair deal for our members,” he said.

Dunphy said the union has been holding strike votes and members have indicated they are ready to strike if needed.

But he reiterated that strike action is their last recourse, noting it could have wide-ranging impacts.

“Once in a legal strike position, we can slow down the traffic, work-to-rule, a rotational strike, or just like we did this morning have a strike picket,” said Dunphy.

Dunphy said the union received “significant” support from its affiliates in the International Longshoremen’s Association, who refused to cross Friday’s information picket line.

“Imagine if on strike if we show up there and stay there for a long time, it’s going to have a tremendous impact on the operation of the port,” he said.

Strike votes are expected to continue across the country over the next few weeks, said Dunphy.

The Customs and Immigration Union represents front-line customs and immigration officers, investigation, intelligence and trade customers officers, immigration inland enforcement and hearings officers, along with support staff at CBSA.