Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / Federal public service workers Scott (left), Doug and Noel were among the approximately 150 individuals who rallied on the picket line Friday (Apr. 21) near Keith Wilson Road and Dieppe Place, close to Garrison. They are calling for fair wages and represent different federal agencies (e.g., CRA, RCMP, Service Canada, etc.). Federal employees began job action this past Wednesday, Apr. 19; service levels at agencies like CRA and Service Canada are impacted.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Striking federal workers rally in Chilliwack

Federal public service workers rally outside PRTC in Chilliwack

Apr 21, 2023 | 3:17 PM

CHILLIWACK — Upwards of approximately 150 public service workers representing a variety of federal agencies rallied outside the RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre on Dieppe Place near Garrison Friday on the third day of a nationwide strike.

Affected federal employees held signs with words like “fairness” and “fair wages” as they congregated on Keith Wilson Road and nearby Dieppe Place, eliciting loud honks and shows of support from motorists.

One motorist driving a CBRE work van honked his car horn at least 10 times in support before doing a U-turn on Dieppe Place and heading back toward Keith Wilson Road.

A manager named Noel who stood on Dieppe Place said federal employees like her are calling for fairer wages, enhanced training to address bias and discrimination, better hiring practices, and enhanced flexibility in working from home as needed.

“It’s really about flexibility and not applying a one-size-fits-all approach,” Noel said, adding that she’d like to see flexibility enshrined into employees’ contracts. “Having flexibility [in scheduling] will improve recruitment and retention.”

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Picket lines went up across the country starting Wednesday, April 19 as more than 155,000 working for the Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency began strike action.

“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC national president. “Now more than ever, workers need fair wages, good working conditions and inclusive workplaces. And it’s clear the only way we’ll achieve that is by taking strike action to show the government that workers can’t wait.”

Picket lines have been set up in more than 250 locations across the country. Members and public supporters can find the nearest picket line using PSAC’s picket line finder tool.

With nearly a third of the entire federal public service workers on strike, Canadians can expect to see slowdowns or a complete shutdown of services nationwide beginning tomorrow, including a complete halt of the tax season; disruptions to employment insurance, immigration, and passport applications; interruptions to supply chains and international trade at ports; and slowdowns at the border with administrative staff on strike, PSAC said in a statement.

“As we begin this historic strike, PSAC bargaining teams will remain at the table night and day as they have been for weeks,” Aylward said. “We’re ready to reach a fair deal as soon as the government is ready to come to the table with a fair offer.”

Negotiations between PSAC and Treasury Board began in June 2021, but reached impasse in May 2022.