Federal employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada rallied outside MP Irek Kusmierczyk's office Monday afternoon.
The 140,000 federal public service workers across the country have been without a contract since 2021. In May, the union declared an impasse at the bargaining table.
"Quite frankly we've lost confidence that the government is going to do the right thing," said Craig Reynolds, regional executive vice-president with the Public Service Alliance of Canada. "Next year we will be taking strike votes to let the government know that we are not backing down."
The union is looking for increased wages in line with inflation, better work-life balance, and mandatory training that would help create safer workplaces, free of systemic racism, harassment, and discrimination.
"Our experience during the pandemic has shown that public service workers can be as effective working remotely as when they are working in the office and now it's time to look to the future by enshrining remote work in our collective agreement," said Reynolds.
Union members held rallies outside the offices of members of parliament across the county on Monday.
"We have to continue to pressure the government so that they can present an offer that is in line with the tremendous work our members do for the public. They have a chance to be leaders in the county and stand up for working people and that's what we're fighting for at this point," said Reynolds.
