Public service union to increase picketing efforts starting today

Canada’s biggest federal public service union is hoping to increase the impact their strike is having on the public sector starting Monday.

Chris Aylward, the national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said civil servants need to further affect the economy in order to get a deal on the table.

It’s the sixth day and negotiations have so far been mired in miscommunication and displeasure, as both sides fail to find a middle ground on key issues.

Aylward said the union is preparing to ramp up strikes by moving some picket lines to strategic locations, like ports.

Picket lines have mainly been confined to government buildings, constituency offices and landmarks like Parliament Hill.

READ MORE: Federal workers now on strike. Here are the services that may be affected

Aylward said Ottawa made an offer Saturday evening, which the union countered with its own proposal the same day as the revised proposal didn’t advance negotiations on salaries.

Over 100,000 union employees walked off the job Wednesday after negotiations broke down after months of contract talks.

The union is looking for wage increases to account for inflation, job security and for the right to work remotely.

The union said it will continue to strike and withhold work until a deal can be reached.

In a letter to union members over the weekend, the president said they made “some progress” but “aren’t there yet.”

READ MORE: No fines issued by hospitals under Ontario’s new long-term care law: OHA