Canadian border agents overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year labor agreement, the government of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada and Customs and Immigration Union announced July 4.
More than 90% of the members who cast ballots voted in favor of the new labor deal, which covers the period between June 2022 and June 2026. A spokesperson for the union would not disclose how many of the more than 9,000 represented members participated in the ratification vote.
The union and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat reached a tentative four-year labor agreement on June 11, with the two sides reaching a consensus after nine days of mediated talks.
The represented members of the Canada Border Services Agency had been working without a contract for two years.
A strike had been scheduled to start at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 7 but was delayed as talks continued, ultimately concluding with the tentative labor deal. There were concerns a strike could have led to traffic back-ups at more than two dozen border crossings and longer processing times for freight being shipped between the U.S. and Canada.
The negotiated agreement provides represented members a compounded wage increase of 15.73% and provisions for shift scheduling and leave time.
Workers will get an additional 1.25% on top of a 3.5% wage increase awarded in 2022. Represented members also can expect an additional 2.8% raise to be added to 3% raises given in 2023.
Union members were set to receive 2% raises this year, but that will increase another 0.25% under the new deal, while 2% raises are scheduled for 2025.
