Canada's Border Officials Have Started A Work-To-Rule Strike Ahead Of Travel Rule Changes
This could lead to delays at airports and have an effect on the Canada-U.S. border reopening.
While no decision has been made either way on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) strike, employees have already started "work-to-rule" action and it could lead to delays ahead of new travel rules coming into effect.
Friday, August 6 was set as the date when almost 9,000 employees with the CBSA were to begin job action across the country. Even though more time is being given for bargaining, action has already begun as planned with employees starting "work-to-rule" action all over Canada.
Work-to-rule is when employees protest by doing exactly what's in their contracts and nothing extra.
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union — the two striking unions — have previously said that work-to-rule could lead to "long and unavoidable delays at Canada's borders" and the action could have an impact on the Canada-U.S. border reopening to fully vaccinated Americans.
This action is happening at all Canadian airports, land borders, commercial shipping ports, postal facilities and headquarters.
"The sooner we reach a deal, the sooner those actions stop," Jeffrey Vallis, communications officer with PSAC, told Narcity in an email.
Just after 7:30 a.m. ET on August 6, Toronto Pearson International Airport tweeted that "airport operations may be impacted today as a result of a peaceful labour demonstration by CBSA workers." Travellers are being asked to leave early and give themselves extra time at the airport because of "potential delays."