Massive PSAC strike draws 9,000 Manitobans to the streets on Wednesday

Negotiations have been going on for about two years and some services will be impacted as a result of the strike.

Nine-thousand federal government employees in Manitoba joined the picket line on Wednesday when 155 thousand federal workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) went on strike after failing to reach a deal with the government by Tuesday night’s deadline.

There are groups along Main Street in Winnipeg outside the passport office, the Grain Commission building near the train station, and off Regent at the main office for the Canada Revenue Agency.

Members have several striking points including wage increases to meet the cost of living and an option to work remotely if their job allows for it, Regional Executive Vice President for the Prairies, Marianne Hladun said.

Negotiations have been going on for about two years and some services will be impacted as a result of the strike.

“Correctional services, passports, heritage, all of the service Canada, the pension centres, all of the agriculture units, department of defense, we are the cleaners, we are the clerks, we’re the mailroom people. You know, we are the ones you really need to be able to deliver these services.” said Hladun.

“Some members are designated as essential, they are doing the duties that are deemed to be essential for the health and safety of Canadians and the rest of the people are out so there could be delays and we apologize but had the government come with a fair offer two and half weeks ago, two years ago, we would not be in this situation.”

The Keystone Agricultural Producer (KAP) has expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of the strike action on Manitoba farmers and the agricultural sector.

“PSAC represents thousands of public service employees who play a key role in the delivery and administration of agricultural programs and services, including the suite of business risk management programs and programming in the new Sustainable CAP that producers rely so heavily on to help run their operations” said KAP president, Jill Verwey in a press release.