After CBSA workers' union rally, Treasury board says protests that block borders are illegal

The federal Treasury Board Secretariat is insinuating an information picket staged by the union representing Canada Border Service Agency workers illegally interfered with traffic coming out of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel on Monday.

In a statement to media about the picket, the secretariat said that, "Any labour action that blocks or intentionally slows the free flow of people or goods at our borders would be illegal."

"We fully respect the rights of employees to lawfully gather and demonstrate, and we look forward to seeing just as much effort at the bargaining table. The government fully supports the right to lawfully assemble. However, we are disappointed that PSAC (the Public Service Alliance of Canada) is resorting to unnecessary pressure tactics instead of participating in productive negotiations." stated the secretariat.

The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), which represents more than 10,000 Canada Border Services Agency employees including officers, is part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

The CIU held the picket to bring attention to the impasse they say they have reached with Treasury Board. A representative says they have been without a contract for nearly two years and they say it's because the government refuses to budge on key issues such as wages, job security and access to telework for some members.

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada march down Park Street demanding a contract with the federal government on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

Alissa Howe, Windsor Branch 19 CIU President issued a statement saying they were "very surprised and saddened" to hear about the Treasury Board's statement.

"The membership of the Customs and Immigration Union Local 18 in Windsor were exercising their legitimate rights to support their bargaining team and there was never any intent to block or slow down travelers or trade," states Howe in a release.

"The event was held strategically at a time when members would be available to attend and advertised as 'family friendly.' We also made sure to contact the Windsor Police Service to make sure we were acting within our rights within city limits."

CBC News did witness several cars that had to wait for a few minutes to exit the tunnel while the long line of pickets marched along Park Street East in front of the exit. The group marched west along the south side of Park Street, crossed the street at Ouellette Avenue and then marched west along Park until they came to Goyeau Avenue and then crossed back and did a circular route.

The secretariat wrote that the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) walked away from the bargaining table last September before the government had an opportunity to table its first comprehensive offer.

The secretariat said the government has reached an agreement with 120,000 other civil servants and can't see why one can't be reached with here.

At the end of the month, the chair of a Public Interest Commission (PIC), an independent party that includes a union and a management nominee, is expected to hand down recommendations for a settlement.

"We believe these recommendations will provide a path to reach an agreement," said the secretariat.

The union is holding a strike vote until May 23. If there is a strike mandate, the union will be in a legal strike position seven days after the PIC report comes out.

"We don't want to go on strike but we have to push the employer to negotiate with our bargaining team at the table," said 4th National Vice President for the CIU, Gus Kontogianis in an interview at the picket.

4th National Vice President of the CIU Gus Kontogianis at the PSAC rally Monday, May 13, 2024. (Dale Molnar/CBC News)

"The border will remain open and safe. Ninety per cent per cent of frontline border services officers are essential workers, which means that they will continue to staff ports of entry in the event of a strike," said the secretariat.

Mediation between the two sides will begin on June 3.

"At that point, we are hopeful that the union will be ready to negotiate in good faith so we can reach a deal that is fair for our employees and reasonable for taxpayers," said the secretariat.