Public Service Alliance of Canada National President Chris Aylward looks up as he listens to a journalist ask a question on the phone during a news conference at union headquarters, Monday, April 17, 2023 in Ottawa. If the federal government and Canada's largest union does not reach a deal by 9 p.m. EDT tonight, the union says they already have an action plan ready for Wednesday's strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – Canada’s federal public servants will need to show up at the picket line for four hours each day if they go on strike – even if their union has been trying to negotiate permanent work-from-home arrangements with the government.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada says that if it doesn’t reach a deal with the federal government by 9 p.m. EDT tonight, some 155,000 federal workers across the country are prepared to strike as of Wednesday.
Many of those employees work in an office only two or three days a week, but the union’s president says they will have to scan a barcode at a picketing location every day in order to receive strike pay.
Chris Aylward says there will be exceptions to the rules for those who have mobility issues, disabilities or have discussed their circumstances with the union.
They will be given other administrative duties to complete in lieu of picketing.
The president of the Ontario Federation of Labour says there are many ways that workers can contribute to their colleagues’ efforts from their living rooms, such as joining labour committees and raising awareness on social media.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
