This content was published on April 19, 2023 – 20:08
Toronto (Canada), April 19 (EFE).- Some 155,000 Canadian civil servants began an indefinite strike on Wednesday to protest against the absence of an agreement with the government to raise their salaries.
The strike began after the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union and the Canadian government failed to reach an agreement by midnight Tuesday.
One of the workers’ main demands is for a 13.5% wage increase over the next three years. The government has proposed a 9% increase over this period.
Additionally, officials want the government to agree in writing to the right to work remotely.
PSAC President Chris Aylward said in a statement that the union did not want to strike but that after exhausting all avenues of reaching a “fair deal” for those responsible, it was decided to take pressure measurements.
“Now more than ever, workers need fair wages, good working conditions and inclusive jobs. And it is clear that the only way to achieve this is to go on strike to show the government that workers do can’t wait,” added Aylward.
For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked union representatives to return to the negotiating table to end the strike that the union considers to be the largest strike by federal government employees in the country’s history.
Trudeau said Wednesday that Canadians “are entitled” to the services they receive from the federal government, adding that negotiators are to meet again after talks break down at midnight.
The Canadian government has warned that the strike will affect services such as issuing passports, processing immigration and refugee applications or collecting taxes. EFE
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