Border workers' union warns of longer wait times in new contract bid

More than 100 Canadian border officials and workers rallied at a terminal at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Thursday continuing their call for a new contract from the Canadian Border Services Agency. 

The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) says a pay gap of $12,000 exists between border officials and other law enforcement agencies such as the RCMP.

"Through time, our role has changed significantly," said Jean-Pierre Fortin, president of CIU. He said in the past, much of the work of border officials focused on "collecting taxes" on liquor and cigarettes. 

"Right now, we're the first line of defence of this country," Fortin said, adding that a crucial part of the work of border agents is to intercept drugs and weapons into Canada.

The CIU says 1,600 positions have been taken away in the last five years, with many of them going toward technology...

The CBSA responded to the union's demands in a statement to CBC News, confirming contract negotiations are ongoing between the Treasury Board of Canada, CBSA and the union...

Border services are considered an "essential service" and members of the union have said they will not formally walk off the job, said Fortin. But the union says there are pressure tactics at their disposal to force negotiations. 

"I don't know if it's going to be [longer] wait times. We're not trying to target the public but commercial expeditions could certainly be targeted," Fortin said.

This is excerpted from 15 March 2018 edition of CBC News.