Some members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) are employed within the Export and Import Controls
Bureau (EICB). These individuals are expected to be in a legal strike position next week. PSAC members include the permit administrators but not the quota managers or technical personnel. At this time it
is uncertain when strike action will take place and what the time period of any action will be. The operation of the EICS application itself should not be affected but access to the EICB offices for non-union personnel
may have an impact on the hours and availability of service.
The EICB has not finalized its plans for the management of the permit process under various strike scenarios but they do understand the needs of
customs brokers and their clients and are reviewing the limited options available to them for the administration of routed permits, including those which are under quota, and for staffing the help line. Excluded
managers are prepared to step in to process routed permit applications to the extent possible but obviously volumes will be an issue.
The EICB will be publishing Notice to Broker EICS bulletins concerning strike
actions that affect its operations. Brokers are also reminded that permit applications may be submitted in advance of the shipment arriving at the border. |
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