Hundreds joined a picket line out front of the federal government building on Bay Street in downtown Hamilton as public service workers went on strike Wednesday.
Some 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have taken job action after the union failed to reach an agreement with Ottawa.
The strike is likely to impact several government services, particularly for Canadians still looking to file their income tax returns ahead of this month’s deadline.
PSAC is pushing for a salary increase of 13.5 per cent over three years, retroactive to the expiration of the previous contract.
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The federal government tabled nine per cent over three years, as of Sunday.
Also in negotiation is the option of continuing to work from home, or telework, implemented during the pandemic to limit the spread of COVID.
In a November statement, PSAC national president Chris Aylward speculated federal public service workers would be ordered to return to in-person workplaces for a minimum of two to three days amid declining COVID protocols.
“A lot of people are working remotely. The whole public service went home (and) kept serving Canadians during the pandemic,” said Gina Degner, president of the Hamilton chapter of the Union of Taxation Employees who joined demonstrators on Bay Street.
“That’s a win-win story for both the employer and for us, so we would like some protections for that.”
Both the government and union told Global News there would be service delays, disruptions and some services not delivered in certain sectors, including filing taxes, delays at the border and processing of immigration and passport applications.
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PSAC strikes take effect from coast to coast to coast -
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Treasury board president says PSAC must be ready to compromise: ‘We cannot write a blank cheque’ -
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Federal workers to strike after bargaining deal not reached: PSAC -
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Public service employees form picket line at Winnipeg’s Canada Revenue Agency Tax Centre
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