Potential supply chain chaos at the border has been averted with a tentative agreement covering over 9,000 workers at Canada Border Services Agency.
The workers are represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC0 and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU).
“Our bargaining team has been working around the clock to secure the best contract for our members, and this tentative agreement is a testament to their incredible hard work and dedication,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “This is a well-deserved victory for our members at CBSA who safeguard our nation’s borders and ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”
Full details of the tentative agreement will be announced once the ratification kit is available for members Thursday, June 13.
“Our bargaining team has been working around the clock to secure the best contract for our members, and this tentative agreement is a testament to their incredible hard work and dedication,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “This is a well-deserved victory for our members at CBSA who safeguard our nation’s borders and ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”
Full details of the tentative agreement will be announced once the ratification kit is available for members Thursday, June 13.
If no agreement had been reached strike action would have affected $3.1 billion in manufactured goods crossing the Canadian border each day, both import and export.
While many CBSA workers are deemed essential and must continue to offer services during a strike, work-to-rule actions could cause significant delays, disruptions and costs for Canadian manufacturers.
Over 9,000 workers with CBSA, out of about 11,000 total workers, could have been part of the job action and it could involve CBSA employees at airports and land and marine ports of entry.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Canada’s economic well-being is heavily reliant on trade, with goods exports accounting for one-quarter of the country’s GDP.
- Manufacturers also rely on imports of certain key raw materials and intermediate inputs to create their final products, so any disruption in the supply chain can significantly impact production schedules, increase costs, and potentially lead to delays in meeting customer demands.
- In 2023, merchandise exports totaled $767 billion, while imports came in at $754 billion, implying two-way trade of $1.5 trillion.
