The Canada Border Services Agency is telling travellers to avoid the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., due to a dispute over name tags that has sparked a slowdown at North America's busiest border crossing.
The CBSA is encouraging people to cross into Canada at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ont. Until early Wednesday morning, the Sarnia crossing was also affected by the job action, but the agency said work and traffic flow have returned to normal.
The CBSA says the disruptions were the result of refusals by several unionized officers to wear name tags.
"Workers are allowed to exercise their right to refuse work that they consider dangerous," said Ron Moran, fourth vice-president of the Customs and Immigration Union.
The CBSA says the border staff taking part in the job action are questioning the health and safety implications of wearing a name tag.
Windsor police say they are aware of the situation and warn travellers the delays, which could be as long as two hours, could continue until at least noon.
Moran said a health and safety officer is on scene and scheduled to file a report by noon.
In a memo to members dated Dec. 5, Customs and Immigration Union president Jean-Pierre Fortin said the union "vehemently opposes" a new name tag policy.
He said wearing a name tag exposes members to "unnecessary risks" and he cautions members to "obey now, grieve later" to avoid any unnecessary discipline.
The agency says, however, that name tags are in line with similar policies in place in the Canadian Forces, Correctional Service of Canada and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, whose frontline uniformed officers all wear the ID tags.
Policy 'compromises' safety of officers
Moran says the policy does nothing to improve service or the complaint process.
"It compromises the security and safety of the officers for no reason other than to project the illusion of transparency," Moran said. "Officers are already bound to provide you a badge number. The service will know immediately who you are talking about. It doesn't change anything about the complaint process."
Moran said officers face "severe discipline" if they fail to provide a badge number.
Fortin writes that legal counsel is examining the name tag requirement as the union continues to consider its options.
He also advised any member whose name is visible to the public to consider removing it in public forums such as social media and apartment building lobbies.
The CBSA says in a statement that management will closely monitor border traffic and try to resolve any unwarranted delays, adding that any illegal actions and inappropriate behaviour "will be dealt with accordingly."
The CBSA says it encourage travellers to consult border wait times on it website .
Should front-line members of the Canada Border Services Agency be required to wear name tags?
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