Article by: Rick Walker, Vice President, TradeInsights, LCB/CCS

It was announced on June 11 that a tentative agreement has been reached between the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and the Canadian Government.

The temporary resolution, reached after more than a week of intense negotiations, will remain in effect until June 2026. Provisions of the agreement include wage increases, heightened workplace safety measures, and improved leave policies for CBSA workers.

“Our bargaining team worked 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 in a June 13 statement. “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.”

The agreement also averts the potential strike action that loomed during the negotiation period. Strike action by CBSA personnel in 2021 nearly brought commercial cross-border traffic to a standstill, causing major delays at airports and borders across the country and a marathon 36-hour bargaining session to reach an agreement.

Despite the legal requirement to continue working, a strike among CBSA employees, nonetheless, would result in slowdowns of processing cargo across Canada’s border with the U.S.

Please contact your V. Alexander account team, or you may also contact our Trade Compliance team at tradeinsights@valexander.com with any questions.