Us Canada Border Strike: What to Expect During Labor Dispute

A labor dispute is unfolding at the US-Canada border, affecting thousands of travelers and businesses.

The strike involves members of the Customs and Immigration Union, who are protesting changes to their collective agreement.

Expect significant delays and disruptions to border crossings, particularly at major ports like Detroit-Windsor and Blaine-Surrey.

Travelers should check the latest border crossing wait times and plan accordingly.

A labor strike at the Canadian border will cause significant delays to northbound freight shipments, with wait times potentially increasing to hours-long waits.

Shippers in time-sensitive industries like pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, automotive parts, and manufacturing will feel an immediate impact on their supply chains.

Drivers could face lengthy delays due to the physical presence of border agents needed to review and scan customs paperwork.

If the strike continues, slowdowns at the border could affect freight shipping by air, rail, and sea due to the interconnected nature of supply chains that utilize multiple modes.

Wait times of four to five hours are a possibility, as seen during the 2021 strike, which would be felt quickly on supply chains.

Automotive manufacturing, which relies on just-in-time delivery of parts and components, would be particularly affected by these delays.

Customs inspections could become unpredictable during a strike, causing unexpected delays to affected shipments.

Some shipments are automatically flagged for spot checks, and there are triggers indicating an inspection is needed for shipments deemed high-risk.

The Canadian border strike is causing concern for travelers and shippers alike. If border agents strike, the U.S.-Canada border will not fully close, but delays are still expected.

In fact, drivers may face delays of four to up to 10 hours at major land crossings, depending on the duration of the strike. This is based on past experiences, such as the 2021 labor disruption when drivers reported delays of four to five hours.

Shippers and drivers with northbound shipments into Canada should expect longer delays at the border, regardless of whether the CBSA takes on clearance facilitation.

The Canadian border won't fully close if border agents strike. As of 2024, 90 percent of frontline border services officers in Canada are considered essential workers, which means they can't strike.

In the event of a labor action, these officers will continue to staff ports of entry. However, over 9,000 border agents could take a work-to-rule campaign, which is a labor action where workers perform only the minimum labor required in their job or contract.

Shippers and drivers with northbound shipments into Canada should expect longer delays at the border, regardless of whether the CBSA takes on clearance facilitation. This is because even if the CBSA steps in, it's still likely to cause delays.

The Canadian border may experience significant delays in the event of a strike or work-to-rule action by border agents.

Drivers can expect delays of four to ten hours to enter Canada at major land crossings, as seen during the 2021 labor disruption.

Shippers and drivers with northbound shipments into Canada should be prepared for longer delays at the border, regardless of whether the CBSA takes on clearance facilitation.

Using alternative points of entry may help mitigate congestion and delays, but it's unlikely that drivers will be able to avoid delays altogether.

The CBSA will step in to process border clearance in the event of a strike, but this may not be enough to prevent significant delays.

Drivers should be prepared for delays of up to ten hours, and transportation companies may want to consider identifying and utilizing alternative points of entry to mitigate the expected congestion.

The Canadian border strike is a wake-up call for shippers to prepare their supply chains for disruptions. Shippers can't afford to throw their fortification plans out the window, as this is unlikely to be the last time Canadian border agents exercise their right to negotiate a contract and potentially strike.

The Treasury Board said they will not share details of the tentative agreement, but once it's ratified, the renewed collective agreement will apply to approximately 11,000 employees, including customs and immigration officers who monitor over 100 land border crossings across Canada.

Communication is key in this industry, and it's essential to maintain open lines of communication with your transportation provider throughout the duration of any labor actions. Customs and immigration agents with the CBSA are responsible for safeguarding the nation's borders and ensuring the safety and security of all Canadians.

Shippers should be prepared to work with their transportation provider to find creative solutions, such as rerouting freight to other ports of entry, to get time-sensitive freight over the border on schedule.

Workers have been without a contract for over two years, and this is a well-deserved victory for them, according to Sharon DeSousa, PSAC's national president.

A strike by Canada's border agents has been set for 12:01 a.m. Friday, unless a new contract is agreed upon.

The union has given the government a firm deadline, but it's still possible to avoid a strike and potential disruptions at Canada's borders.

A strike would cause serious disruptions for North American supply chains across many industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, automotive parts, and manufacturing.

The strike would not close the border, but it could lead to major backups on the Michigan side of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, which carries over a quarter of all goods that flow between the United States and Canada.

Essential personnel, who make up 90% of Canada's border services officers, are not permitted to halt their work, but they can engage in practices that slow the flow of goods and people across the border.

Canada border agents have set a new strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Friday, unless a mediated agreement on a new contract is reached.

The union for Canadian border services workers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, has been negotiating with the government for a fair agreement, including equitable retirement, fair wages, and improved working conditions.

A strike by Canada's border agents would cause serious disruptions for North American supply chains across many industries.

The strike would also cause major backups on the Michigan side of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, which carries more than a quarter of all goods that flow between the United States and Canada.

However, the strike would not close the border because 90% of Canada's border services officers are essential workers, who cannot halt their work.

Instead, they can engage in practices that slow the flow of goods and people across the border, such as performing only essential duties and refusing to work overtime.

The government has been negotiating with the union, assisted by a mediator, and is expected to reach a tentative agreement soon.

If the agreement is ratified, it will apply to approximately 11,000 employees, including customs and immigration officers, intelligence officers, investigators, and nonuniformed staff.

Workers have been without a contract for over two years, and the renewed collective agreement includes wage enhancements and other benefits for employees.

A tentative agreement has been reached between the unions representing Canadian border officers and the Canadian government, avoiding a strike that could have crippled land and air entry into Canada. This is a huge relief for travelers and businesses alike.

The agreement was reached late Friday, just 72 hours before Canada is set to reopen its borders to vaccinated U.S. citizens. This means that the flow of border traffic will return to normal as the government prepares to welcome fully vaccinated U.S. travelers on Monday.

The agreement includes a four-year contract with an average annual increase of over 2% per year, better protections against excessive discipline in the workplace, and the creation of a National Joint Committee to tackle workplace culture problems within the Canada Border Service Agency. These are significant gains for the union and its members.

The strike would have caused serious disruptions for North American supply chains across many industries, with delays of four to up to 10 hours reported during the 2021 labor disruption.

If the strike happens, it could lead to significant supply chain disruptions, as Canada border officers are responsible for monitoring over 100 land border crossings across Canada.

The strike could affect approximately 11,000 employees, including customs and immigration officers, intelligence officers, investigators, and nonuniformed staff.

The Treasury Board stated that it will not share details of the tentative agreement until the ratification process is complete.

CBSA personnel will continue to staff ports of entry, but a work-to-rule campaign could lead to slowdowns and decreased productivity.

Shippers and drivers with northbound shipments into Canada should expect longer delays at the border, regardless of whether the CBSA takes on clearance facilitation.

A work-to-rule campaign is a labor action where workers perform only the minimum labor required in the rules of their job or contract, and strictly follow time-consuming rules or procedures.

If the strike happens, it could take a significant toll on the economy, given the importance of the border crossing for trade between the US and Canada.