Dozens of unionized federal workers from Kent and Mountain Institutions made their voices heard in the wake of a nationwide strike that began on Wednesday (April 19).
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) went on strike earlier this week after negotiations between the provincial Treasury Board and the union broke down. Negotiations began in June 2021 and reached an impasse last May. PSAC represents 155,000 workers across Canada, including those that work at federal prisons like Kent and Mountain Institution.
PSAC Local 20040 president Angela Striker said the local picket line was busy while striving to minimize impact on nearby businesses. RCMP officers were on the scene to ensure safety and direct high vehicle and foot traffic.
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“Our wages have been stuck in neutral while the cost of living continues to climb,” Striker told The Observer. “This isn’t a fight for more than we deserve. This is about us putting everything on the line for enough. Enough to support our families. Enough to pay the rent and cover the bills. We deserve wages that keep up with the cost of living, a reasonable approach to remote work that makes sense in our evolving workplaces and better job security.”
Striker added that workers have waited long enough for better working conditions and Canadians deserved strong, federal public services.
“We all deserve to be treated fairly, no matter where we work,” she stated. “Our bills, our families, our futures can’t wait. None of us can.”
In Abbotsford, hundreds of federal workers picketed outside the Matsqui Institution. The lineup to park at the medium-security prison was hours long, filling up King Road.
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Workers are required to show up for four hours per day to be paid by the union. The picket line at the local institutions is part of what could be one of the largest strikes in the history of the nation. As of Wednesday, picket lines were being set up in more than 250 locations.
Canadians can expect widespread disruptions, including those related to tax season, employment insurance, immigration and supply chain slowdown.
“As we begin this historic strike, PSAC bargaining teams will remain at the table night and day as they have been for weeks,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC’s national president. “We’re ready to reach a fair deal as soon as the government is ready to come to the table with a fair offer.”
– With files from Jessica Peters