THUNDER BAY — Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada set up pickets early Wednesday at federal government offices in Thunder Bay.
About 400 union members in Northwestern Ontario joined 155,000 of their counterparts across the country in a strike after bargaining teams for the two sides failed to reach agreement on a new contract Tuesday evening.
Union members were marching outside the constituency office of Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu, and at the offices of Indigenous Services Canada on Balmoral Street.
Canada Revenue Agency workers are among the employees on strike.
The union's most recent reported wage demand was 4.5 per cent for each of three years, while on Wednesday morning, the government said it was offering a 3.0 per cent increase in each of three years.
Other issues are also in dispute.
Negotiations are continuing despite the strike, which is one of the largest work stoppages in Canadian history.
John Deptuck, vice-president of PSAC Local 00030 in Thunder Bay, said members haven't received a raise since 2020.
"We're falling behind. Inflation is up. We're just like every other Canadian out there, and realistically we just need to keep up with that cost of living, and the government needs to come to the table in order to increase those wages."
Deptuck said the strike is intended to disrupt the government but not to disrupt Canadians.
However, he said the filing of tax returns and employment insurance claims, and the processing of passport applications, will likely be impacted.
