Cold Lake’s federal public workers strike for two days and counting

Cold Lake’s federal public workers’ strike continued for the second day on Thursday as bargaining goes on for a wage increases as inflation rises.  

Michael Crotty, the Vice President of the Union National Defence Employees, says this is necessary. That is why he is standing amongst 50 protesters at Cold Lake 4 Wing and with more than 155,000 Canadians federally. 

The UNDE is one of the largest components of the Public Service Alliance of Canada its members work in a wide range of occupations. 

“This is something we are absolutely entitled to do and this is why we are doing it,” said Crotty. 

“Our backs are against the wall and there is nothing else we can do. This is our only opportunity to negotiate for money, we can’t just go into our boss’s office and ask.”

The 4 Wing Cold Lake has put out a statement recognizing that employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada adopted a legal strike position which started on April 19.

“4 Wing respects the right of employees to legally strike and picket lines may be noticed in the Lion’s Park area, and the “back gate” area on Kingsway Road,” it said. 

“We have been very fortunate with having a lot of support from members in our community of Cold Lake who are not only retired military members but also retired members of our public service workforce,” said Marc Desmarais, Strike Captain.

“We have had a lot of generous support from residents donating their time and money and overall very understanding that we are not in control of this situation, we’re standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the country who are going through the same thing.”

Not only were Cold Lakers present in the ongoing strike but people coming from Elk Point, Bonnyville, St. Paul, Lac La Biche, and Fort McMurray who fall under this same issue. 

“The closest picket point besides here is Edmonton so we are bringing in people from outside the community that want to be seen and heard,” said Desmarais.

From 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., people have stood and will continue until an agreement is made. 

“The last strike that happened was 19 years ago and there are not a lot of people here who have experienced a strike, this is only short term but a necessary thing that we have to do to make sure that we are paid fair and appropriately so we can keep up with the cost of inflation,” said Crotty.

“We are Cold Lakers too and we love it here and we love it here and this is what we have to do to maintain living here.”

Canada’s largest federal public-service union continues on strike as the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the government failed to reach a deal on a new collective agreement by Tuesday evening. 

The union is asking for a 13.5 per cent raise over the next three years which still falls below inflation. The federal government offered 8.2 per cent over three years then revised it up to nine, but workers say that those numbers make living impossible.  

Government workers walked off the job on Wednesday, April 19, joining one of the 250-plus picket line locations across the country. 

This is only the third major strike by the federal public sector workers. The last strike happened 19 years ago in 2004 when more than 115,000 union members were striking to also increase their pay just to make ends meet. This strike ended early for a lot of workers when the PSAC ordered units to return to work with no deal, but this time it is not the case.