After months of negotiations and the threat of a strike, border workers in Canada have finally ratified a new contract.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced on Tuesday that its members, who work at Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), have voted in favor of the new agreement.
The workers, who are responsible for keeping Canada’s borders safe and secure, had been without a contract since June 21. They had been in negotiations with the federal government for over a year, but talks broke down in June, leading to a strike vote.
However, the two sides were able to reach a tentative agreement on June 25, just hours before the strike was set to begin. The new contract includes a 2.8% wage increase over three years, as well as improvements to work-life balance and job security.
PSAC, which represents over 9,000 border workers, said in a statement that the new contract “addresses many of the key issues that our members have been fighting for.”
The union also acknowledged the support of the Canadian public during the negotiations, saying that it “played a crucial role in pushing the government to reach a fair deal.”
The ratification of the new contract means that border services and tax services will continue to operate without any disruptions. This is especially important as Canada prepares to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travelers in the coming weeks.
In a statement, the CBSA and CRA expressed their satisfaction with the ratification of the new contract, saying that it “demonstrates the commitment of both parties to reach a fair and reasonable agreement.”
The new contract will be in effect until June 21, 2024. Both sides have expressed their commitment to continue working together to address any outstanding issues and improve the working conditions for border workers.
This news brings relief to both the workers and the Canadian public, as the threat of a strike would have had significant impacts on border security and tax services. With the new contract in place, Canadians can have confidence that their borders will remain safe and secure, and their tax services will continue to operate smoothly.
