CFB Esquimalt fire inspector Grant Russell has never been on a picket line before, but he was at the Graving Dock with hundreds of others Wednesday morning asking for fair wages.
“When push came to shove, we definitely had to stand up for ourselves,” he said. “We’re hoping that there’s going to be a quick resolution to this situation.”
Federal workers hit picket lines at about 250 locations across the country Wednesday morning, after negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada — the country’s largest federal public-service union — and the government failed to produce an agreement by a Tuesday evening deadline.
Federal public servants began forming a picket line at Esquimalt Graving Dock at 6 a.m.
PSAC and the federal government remained at the bargaining table as what the union has called one of the largest strikes in Canadian history got underway.
Liberal ministers sidestepped questions Wednesday about the potential for back-to-work legislation even as the NDP, which is supporting the minority Liberals in a confidence-and-supply deal, said it would staunchly oppose such measures.
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said only that she was hopeful progress could be made with the union. “We will continue to work with the PSAC to reach agreements that are fair and competitive, but we cannot do that unless the union is prepared to compromise. We cannot write a blank cheque,” she said.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is asking for a pay raise of 13.5 per cent over the next three years. It says the increases are necessary to keep pace with inflation and the cost of living.
The Treasury Board said it has offered the union a nine per cent raise over three years, on the recommendation of the third-party Public Interest Commission.
Canada Revenue Agency said it also offered its workers a nine per cent raise over three years. The agency said the union’s bargaining unit countered with a proposed 22.5 per cent pay raise over the next three years, which includes a market adjustment of two per cent.
The bargaining groups involve some 155,000 federal public servants, including 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers.
The federal government estimates about 46,000 are essential workers who will not be part of the strike action.
PSAC’s national president Chris Aylward said Wednesday that 97,000 workers are on strike nationwide to push for higher wages and better working conditions.
There were about seven picket locations on the south Island Wednesday, including Esquimalt Graving Dock, three entrances to Naden base, the Institute of Ocean Sciences in West Saanich, Service Canada locations at 3719 Jacklin Rd. in Langford and 1230 Government St. in Victoria, and a refueling station and Royal Canadian Navy Fleet Diving Unit Pacific on Wilfert Road near the Burger King in View Royal.
There were also pickets at CFB Comox and other parts of the Island.
“I’m out here representing the firefighters that work at CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue,” Russell said. “We’re grossly underpaid compared to other cities, even the City of Victoria, so we’re just trying to fight for a fair wage that’s going to come on par with the rest of the firefighters across Canada.”
Frances Lawrence, a PSAC member working in the pension office, was picketing at the Jacklin Road Service Canada office. Dressed in yellow high tops, pink fishnet stockings, a multi-coloured skirt and heart-shaped hair accessories, she attracted considerable support from passing motorists.
“I’m here to fight on behalf of my fellow brothers and sisters for fair wages and a decent contract with a great working environment,” said Lawrence.
Trish Martin, a mobilization co-ordinator for PSAC south Vancouver Island, said workers only want to be able to pay their bills: mortgage, rent and food. Martin says the average pay for federal public servants is $48,000 to $55,000 a year.
The picket lines snarled early-morning southbound traffic along Admirals Road, forcing several buses in Esquimalt to make detours. While some motorists honked in support of picketers, others were clearly frustrated.
West Shore RCMP were called at about 7:40 a.m. to Wilfert Road and the Island Highway in View Royal after a motorcyclist who was turning around to avoid picket lines brushed the leg of one of the picketers.
Drivers coming into the graving dock and Naden were told by picketers that anyone not on the list of essential workers or serving members who crossed the line would be deemed a “scab.”
Those walking the picket line said they support the union’s bargaining team and are hoping for a tentative agreement “as soon as possible.”
Kuldeep Deol, local president of Government Services Union Local 20001, said public servants take what they do very seriously.
“We’ve been supporting [Canadians] through COVID and we’ve been supporting them now without a contract for this long,” said Deol. “We look for their allyship through this process and to show a little bit of patience, because we’re all in this together and we’ll come back that much stronger and rejuvenated, knowing we have a collective agreement.”
Negotiations on a new collective agreement began in June 2021. The union declared an impasse in May 2022 and both parties filed labour complaints.
Mediated contract negotiations began in early April and continued through the weekend.
