Okanagan federal workers join counterparts across Canada in strike action
Global News
Despite the strike, there are no plans to extend tax filing deadlines.
A large picket line surrounded the federal government building in downtown Kelowna, B.C., Wednesday morning after some 155,000 government workers in the Okanagan and across Canada walked off the job.
“We are in a general strike action against our employer, the federal government,” said Sue Moser, strike captain and president of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) Local 20003.
The UTE falls under the umbrella of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Canada’s largest public services union.
PSAC began strike action Wednesday after the two sides failed to come to an agreement by the union’s set deadline of midnight Tuesday.
“We’ve been without a contract since October 2021,” Moser told Global News.
Kelowna’s picket line was one of 250 set up across the country.
“We had a really good strong strike mandate from our members across the public service,” Moser said. “So that’s why we’re here today.”
The union and government are said to be far apart on some key issues. One of them includes the ability to work from home.
Toronto Police say five people have been injured and four of them have been arrested after a crash in Scarborough involving a stolen vehicle.
Parents in the Halifax area are voicing concerns as children have been finding drug paraphernalia in their neighbourhoods. In one case, a child was pricked by a discarded needle.
Voters in Nova Scotia are heading to the polls today as the province holds an election to determine if Tim Houston and the Progressive Conservatives will remain in power.
On Monday, Trump vowed to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming from Canada and Mexico on his first day back in office.
'A cherished member of the theatre community, his presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions — and big hugs — will be deeply missed'
An Ontario man was restrained with duct tape last week after allegedly trying to open the door of a plane mid-flight, called himself the “captain" and injuring a flight attendant.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday called on provinces to 'step up' and get on board with the Liberals' plan to grant a tax holiday on some items for two months.
As authorities investigate the deaths of six tourists in Laos, here's what Canadians need to know about recognizing and preventing methanol poisoning while travelling.
Danielle Smith said the Alberta government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase Alberta's oil and gas export volumes to the U.S.
'She thinks she's playing Robin Hood, and in actuality, she's putting these fishermen in a worse-off situation than they currently are,' one licence-holder said.
The Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie in Ontario say they expect to turn away 650 women and children this year for service. It's a problem seen across Canada.