155,000 federal public servants strike across Canada

With 155,000 federal public servants on strike, the first day of the strike has begun, and there is mounting pressure on the federal government to reach a settlement and avoid prolonged service disruptions for Canadians.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the country's biggest public service union, initiated the strike at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday morning, citing the exhaustion of all other means to secure a reasonable contract, despite the federal Liberals' claims that a fair deal is already being proposed.

During an interview with CTV News' Kevin Gallagher, Singh urged the federal government to continue negotiating and offer a contract that goes beyond the nine per cent cumulative wage proposal and addresses all of PSAC's demands, in order to arrive at a truly equitable agreement.

Singh emphasized that these workers were the ones who were present for Canadians in their time of need during the pandemic, delivering unparalleled financial support, and now they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity as they ask for fair treatment.

Singh noted that these public sector workers are among the lower-paid and are experiencing the effects of inflation. He expressed his full support for their demand for respect and a fair deal, emphasizing that the government needs to provide a contract that is reasonably negotiated and recognizes the value of these workers.

Singh emphasized that the NDP will always stand in solidarity with workers, and will never endorse legislation that forces them to return to work, asserting that these public sector workers are fighting for the rights of all workers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized that it is essential for Canadians to receive the quality services they deserve from the federal government, and as such, urged public service management and labor representatives to resume negotiations and work towards a resolution at the bargaining table.

The head minister, Mona Fortier, who oversees the Treasury Board, affirmed that the federal government is continuing to negotiate and is optimistic about reaching a positive outcome. They are confident they can.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser expressed his concern about the potential impact of the strike on service levels, acknowledging that it may seriously affect the progress that has been made in reducing processing times. He stated that he is currently focused on maintaining essential services.