Ottawa public servants hit the picket line for Day 1 of general strike

Thousands of Ottawa public servants were out in full force on Wednesday for the first day of a strike by members of Canada's largest public service union.

Thousands of Ottawa public servants were out in full force on Wednesday for the first day of a strike by members of Canada's largest public service union.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has set up picketing in nine locations across Ottawa and Gatineau after members walked off the job at 12:01 a.m.

Public servants turned up in numbers at several spots across the city to demonstrate as part of what the union is calling one of the largest strikes in Canadian history.

At Tunney's Pasture, hundreds of public servants picketed outside the LRT station there. A sizeable crowd had gathered on Parliament Hill by 9:30 a.m., with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh joining strikers there.

There was also a large presence outside Treasury Board President Mona Fortier's constituency office on Montreal Road. Fortier is the member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier.

PSAC also set up a picket line outside Canada Post's headquarters on Heron Road, although Canada Post employees aren't part of the strike.

Ottawa police warned commuters to expect traffic disruptions and delays Wednesday morning due to the labour action.