BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Those seeking to cross the U.S.-Canada border this weekend breathed a sigh of relief as border agents in the Canadian Customs and Immigration Union postponed a potential job action that could have caused slowdowns at international bridges.
“All strike action by 9,000 CBSA personnel is on hold as mediation will continue until Wednesday,” the Customs and Immigration Union posted at Friday’s 4 p.m. deadline. “Picket lines will not be in place until further notice.”
With the possibility of a bridge slowdown looming, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assured “the border will remain open and safe.”
The CBSA told News 4 that “90 percent of all frontline border services officers are essential workers,” meaning that in the event of a strike, ports of entry into Canada would still be staffed.
“Per the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act, employees in essential services positions must provide uninterrupted border services,” the CBSA said. “They cannot intentionally slow down border processing.”
Workers could still implement work-to-rule practices, the CBC reported. This meticulous way of interpreting rules in the strictest fashion could drastically slow down border crossings. It could include searching more vehicles and asking various questions.
The CBSA promised to closely monitor the situation. The CBC report included a statement from the Canadian government that said it is “prepared to make concessions but there needs to be movement on both sides.”
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.