By Paul Vieira
OTTAWA--The union representing Canadian border agents said over 90% of its members have voted to go on strike as soon as next month, posing a risk to billions of dollars to daily crossborder commercial trade between the U.S. and Canada.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said its 9,000 members who work at the Canada Border Service Agency would be in a legal strike position once a federal labor-board committee delivers a report recommending how the employer, the Canadian government, and the union can settle differences on a new agreement. That report could be published as early as June 3, the union said.
The union said it is seeking an increase in wages that are aligned with other law-enforcement agencies across the country, and other improvements in retirement benefits and hours of work.
Border agents went on a nearly daylong strike in August 2021, and at the time officers slowed down the processing of trucks. The disruption caused long delays for shippers and travelers trying to cross the land border into Canada.
Canadian government data estimates that $2.6 billion of goods and services crosses the U.S.-Canada border on a daily basis.
Representatives for Canada's Treasury Board, which handles collective-bargaining negotiations, and the border agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
05-24-24 1000ET
