14°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Labour dispute slows border service at Emerson
Emerson, Man. is a high traffic point for Canadians entering the U.S., but delays are expected as a labour dispute slows services. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
OTTAWA – Travellers may find longer than usual waits at the Emerson border crossing today as border guards, upset at a new name-tag policy, have walked off the job.
According to the CBSA, several workers at the Emerson crossing withdrew their services this afternoon because of a new policy that border guards must wear name tags.
The guards and their union, the Customs and Immigration Union, argue the name tags is a health and safety hazard.
The work stoppage comes a day after the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Labour Programs ruled in several Ontario cases that wearing name tags is not a danger to border guards. Border guards in Ontario returned to work.
A spokeswoman for Minister Vic Toews said the department is disappointed at this latest extreme protest.
"The RCMP and other provincial and municipal police forces across the country who provide the public with transparency through wearing name tags," said Julie Carmichael.
"CBSA should be no different. We urge these workers to air their grievances in an appropriate manner – not in a way that targets Canadian workers, travellers and Canada’s economy."
The union sent a note to members last week reminding them of the work the union is doing to fight against the policy but did not urge work stoppages.
"Members who choose to take action should be reminded of the 'obey now, grieve later' approach so as to avoid unnecessary discipline from the employer," reads the Dec. 6 memo.
It is not clear yet what the delay at the Emerson border crossing will be. As of 12:48 p.m., there was no wait for personal travelers and a 20-minute delay for commercial vehicles.
Travellers can consult border wait times on the CBSA website at www.cbsa.gc.ca. Mobile travellers can follow the CSBA on Twitter for hourly border wait time updates at @CBSA_BWT.
History
Updated on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 2:04 PM CST: Rewritten, added comment from Toews' office.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 41 articles for today)
Tornadoes from huge Midwest storm system level homes in Oklahoma, cut power in other states
9:09 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- The end of the credit card?
- Country music goes to pot
- Police make grow-op bust
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Fire damages St. Vital home
- Accused in alleged smartphone scam charged
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Police identify slaying victims
- Traditional TV season becoming outdated before your eyes
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- The end of the credit card?
- Katz bogeys again
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Guitar-playing astronaut bows out of space station with music video of Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- New website profiles neighbourhoods of Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- RCMP charge man with double-homicide in Ethelbert
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.