The 9th day of the Treasury Board and CRA strike saw members rallying at both the Toronto Pearson International Airport and the Lacolle port of entry, as strike actions continue across the country. Members also took part in pickets in Woodstock, Fort Frances, Boissevain, Sault Ste. Marie, the National Capital Region, and more.
See photos of the day, below:
What a day! Newsworthy picket lines took place in both Fort Erie and Windsor. Striking PSAC members delayed four ships by picketing the lift bridge in Hamilton. Members and allies rallied in Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie, and took to Parliament Hill in Ottawa in great numbers. Perhaps most notable of all, a highly effective one person picket in Torquay, SK, managed to delay the opening of the local port of entry, proving that while there’s always strength in numbers, sometimes all it takes is a handful of people doing the right thing and holding the line.
All these events were possible thanks to the sustained involvement of both striking and non-striking members. Also worth noting is the continued presence of retired CIU activists at the forefront of many of these strike actions, as past and present members come together to tell the government once more that an affront to one is an affront to all.
See photos of the day, below:
As we near the end of the first week of strike at Treasury Board, striking PSAC members continue to report en masse to picket lines across the country — Windsor, Niagara, Fort Erie, Fredericton, Edmundston, St. Stephen, Woodstock, Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Gatineau, etc.
Beyond showing to the employer that the membership is truly energized and ready to continue fighting for a fair contract, the last week has also been an exemplary display of enduring solidarity between striking members and those supporting them however they can. From coast to coast, we’ve seen our FB members standing with and marching side by side with our other Treasury Board members — in places such as Edmonton, Windsor, Fort Frances, Ottawa, to only name a few.
Even if they can’t always join picket lines, CIU FB members have been finding different ways to support the strike. Earlier this week, FB members from Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge and Queenston Bridge provided lunch to support their fellow union members on the picket line. In St. John’s, CIU Branch 90001 sent pizza to picketers to give them a bit of a boost.
Amanda Bird & Christiane Banke
Adding to the influx of solidarity in the last week, the CIU National Office is also proud to report that two of its employees — Administrative Assistant Amanda Bird and Labour Relations Administrator Christiane Banke — have jumped at the opportunity to lend their skills to assist the PSAC strike efforts.
For the last couple of days, they’ve both been busy working on the picket lines and at headquarters in the National Capital Region, fielding questions, verifying membership information, and helping with picket line tasks.
Let’s keep this going!
Here are some photos of the day:
It’s clear the Liberal government is feeling the pressure as we escalate our strike actions across the country. But we’ve been clear – the offer the government has on the table simply doesn’t cut it. And while we’ve had our sleeves rolled up for the past two years and have been ready to negotiate day and night to reach a fair deal, this government has consistently dragged out negotiations and tried to nickel and dime Canada’s workers.
Without a wage increase since the beginning of the pandemic, our members have fallen behind inflation to the tune of nearly 11% of their earnings. After losing more ground to runaway prices than workers in any other sector for years, the government is now saying Canada’s public service workers should be happy with an offer that leaves them even further behind.
And let’s not forget, these are the same members who delivered essential services to Canadians in a time of crisis. Imagine working every day and not having a contract, and because of Phoenix, not even knowing if you will be paid at all. These are regular Canadians who show up day in and day out to do the work that keeps our country running.
We came to the table with demands that reflect the need for significant change in our members’ workplaces. Workers deserve fair wages that keep up with rising costs, remote work to be spelled out in their contract and better job security. Those demands haven’t been met at the table, and we will continue to prioritize the needs of our members until we reach a fair deal.
The truth is, we don’t want a strike any more than our members; any more than Canadians; any more than this government. But we’ve been at the table for nearly two years. How long can workers wait?
We’re calling on the Liberal government to work with us on getting to a fair deal so that members can leave the picket lines behind and return to the work they’re proud to do.
This article was first posted on the PSAC website.
Lots of energy, determination, and smiles were present on the picket lines as striking PSAC members returned for day 6 of the Treasury Board strike, which saw actions ramp up across the country. It’s clear from the photos we’ve received from all over — Ottawa, Gatineau, Windsor, Fort Frances, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Sherbrooke, etc. — that members have no intention of letting up the pressure until the government comes back to the table to bargain fairly.
