VANCOUVER, Aug 6 - The Canadian government and border staff have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, the unions representing the workers announced on Friday, bringing a swift end to strike action that began earlier in the day.
The disruption caused a backlog at the border and came just as Canada prepared to allow fully vaccinated U.S. visitors in for the first time in sixteen months in Canada on Monday.
Talks between two unions representing federal border guards and staff - the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Customs and Immigration Union - and Canadian border guards had reached an impasse in December 2020.
Union demands included higher pay and the ability to carry their guns in some areas like airports. Their members have been without contract for three years.
Earlier in the day, delays at the Canada-U.S. border slowed lengthy crossings to a crawl and airports warned of commercial delays.