Union workers march in downtown Calgary, show support for PSAC strike
Leaders in Alberta believe the PSAC strike is a sign of things to come
Hundreds of unionized workers — from nurses to postal workers to educational assistants — marched Friday through downtown Calgary, chanting and waving union flags.
Amid falling snow and cold winds, the workers gathered at noon at the TELUS Convention Centre before walking to Calgary City Hall, where they held a rally. The theme was "Workers Demand Better."
Rory Gill, president of the Canadian Union of Public employees in Alberta, says the labour movement has been revitalized in a way he's never seen before.
Many unions in the province believe the current Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike is a sign of things to come.
The PSAC strike is one of the largest in Canadian history, involving tens of thousands of public servants and disrupting more than two dozen departments.
When the strike began Wednesday, an estimated 250 demonstrations took place across the country, involving an estimated 155,000 federal public servants.
The public service workers are calling for better wages, increased job security and the ability to work from home.
The PSAC's previous agreement with the federal government expired in 2021, and a new deal hasn't been reached.
Organizers of Friday's rally in Calgary believe the current labour shortage is giving more power to workers, and they say that leverage can be used to demand better working conditions.
Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, says wages are not keeping up with inflation.
"So the strike we're seeing across the country right now, that's the kind of thing that's going to be repeated over and over again," he said.
McGowan said without wage increases, there will be a permanent reduction in the standard of living for all workers in Alberta.
Kathleen Mpulubusi, a letter carrier from Edmonton, said she came down to the rally to show support for workers' rights and express concern over the future of the province.
"Our current government is not really interested in workers, in working people," she said, describing Alberta's United Conservative Party. "They're more interested in serving the elites and keeping their backers happy."
With files from Colleen Underwood