Strike threatens to slow down Sarnia border crossing
SARNIA, Ont. — Public Service Alliance of Canada members which serve as toll collectors, maintenance workers and custodial staff at the Sarnia border crossing will vote Tuesday on whether or not to go on strike.
A strike by these workers could cripple Canadas second busiest commercial crossing, the Blue Water Bridge. The workers could be in a legal strike position by 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, after mediation talks between the union and the Blue Water Bridge Authority have broken down.
One of the unions major concerns is a rollback of wagers for new hires and the implementation of automated toll collection systems. Toll collectors currently earn up to $22.38 an hour while maintenance workers can make $24.82 per hour and custodial workers $16.05 per hour, according to a report in todays Globe and Mail.
The union said it will ask unionized truck drivers not to use the bridge in the event of a strike. Canada Customs agents are members of the same union, leading to concerns they would honour picket lines.
– With files from the Globe and Mail
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