Border employees in Canada reach deal hours after strike action

After a final round of negotiations that lasted more than 36 hours, the unions representing border and customs agents in Canada reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) late Friday.

Thousands of CBSA employees had been on strike over contract negotiations, which could have meant delays at the border for travelers. But the agreement means that strike is over and the flow of border traffic should return to normal.

Citizens and permanent residents of the United States will be allowed to drive across the border into Canada with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test starting Monday.

Canada to let fully vaccinated Americans visit starting in August

In a tweet on Friday, the Public Service Alliance of Canada said that work-to-rule actions had started at ports of entry across the country. That meant border officials would do exactly the tasks in their job description, and nothing more.

Our FB bargaining team has been at the table all night, and we're giving them a bit more time to negotiate.

In the meantime, work-to-rule actions have started across the country. We'll provide an update as soon as possible. #cdnpoli

— PSAC-AFPC (@psac_afpc) August 6, 2021

The Associated Press reported that this could cause long delays at border crossings, especially when vaccinated Americans are allowed to cross starting on Monday, Aug. 9.

The U.S./Canadian border has been closed since March 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19, with new 30-day extensions announced each month since.

State leaders ‘deeply disappointed’ by decision to extend US/Canada border closure

While Canada prepares to open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents next week, the United States border remains is scheduled to remain closed to Canadians until at least Aug. 21.

The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed this report.

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