Civilian employees vote to return to work at eastern Ontario military facilities

CBC
Fri, April 19, 2024 

A picket hands out information to a motorist outside the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., on Jan. 15, 2024. (Dan Taekema/CBC - image credit)


The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) says striking civilian staff at military facilities in Kingston, Ottawa and Petawawa have accepted a deal to return to work, while staff at bases in Bagotville, Montreal–St-Jean and Valcartier voted it down and will remain off the job.

Nearly 500 civilian employees across these locations took to the picket lines in mid-January seeking higher pay among other demands.

According to their union, the workers support Canada's military members in areas such as food service, recreation, financial planning and insurance.

Mediation led to a settlement with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), according to PSAC. It includes a three-year deal bumping the average salary from about $42,500 to $48,700, plus changes to leave and meal reimbursement.

PSAC said staff in eastern Ontario voted 71 per cent in favour of the deal, while staff in Quebec voted 80 per cent against it.

About 300 employees in Kingston, Ottawa and Petawawa will return to work within the next five days, according to PSAC.

The union's national president Chris Aylward said it's listening to the concerns of those members who voted no, many of whom remain focused on pay. PSAC will continue to support those nearly 200 workers who remain on strike, he said.