More than 150,000 federal employees who are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) went on strike Tuesday for the seventh straight day. Their union representatives continue to negotiate with the government to secure a larger pay increase and more flexibility in teleworking from the employer.

In the federal capital region, hundreds of pickets made themselves noticeable and audible on Tuesday in a din of megaphones and thundering music on various buildings.

Hundreds of strikers crossed the Portage Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau, which also includes key federal buildings, on Tuesday morning, briefly blocking traffic.

Meanwhile, outside the prime minister’s office building and outside the Treasury Department headquarters, a few blocks away, strikers have limited access to one person every five minutes.

The signs on the picket line reflected key issues outlined by Treasury Department President Mona Fortier on Monday, including officials’ concerns about increasing contract awarding in Ottawa.

The escalation to the picket lines will be on the promise of the National PresidentPSACChris Aylward to move the pickets more strategic locations where pressure tactics would have greater economic impact, such as B. Seaports.

That was successful, announced the PSAC on Monday close the ports of Montreal, Vancouver and Saint John, Newfoundland and Labrador. Federal ministers, gathering for the weekly cabinet meeting in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, said they would oversee the lockdown of critical infrastructure.

On the one hand, they have the right to strike and demonstrate, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne told reporters on Tuesday. On the other hand, we have to ensure that the economy can continue to function throughout the country.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said he has been in contact with port and airport authorities to ensure contingency plans are in place.

I know Canadians want us to avoid disruption to travel and supply chains, and our goal is to resolve this issue at the negotiating table.he argued.

The negotiations are ongoing

Treasury Department President Mona Fortier told reporters Tuesday afternoon that both sides were sitting at the negotiating table in the morning.

In an open letter published Monday afternoon, Ms Fortier identified four main points of contention that remain between the union and the government: wages, telecommuting, use of subcontractors and seniority rules in the event of a layoff.

When asked if the current offer to increase salaries by 9% over three years would be the government’s last offer, the minister did not give a clear answer. She merely reminded that this offer was based on the recommendation of a Public Interest Commissiona mechanism provided for in the event of an impasse in the federal law on industrial relations in the public sector.

The union is demanding a wage increase of 13.5% over three years.

A public interest committee consists of three members: a chair appointed by the Industrial Relations Council, a person appointed by the union and another person appointed by the employer.

memories of the convoy

Federal and state governments are more aware than ever of the vulnerability and importance of major highways and entry points after the Convoy of Freedom year, according to Ambarish Chandra, associate professor of economics at the University of Toronto.

Demonstrators had occupied main streets in downtown Ottawa for three weeks in February 2022 and blocked border crossings for days to protest against mandatory vaccinations – and against the federal government in general. The protest prompted the Liberal government to enact the Federal Emergency Measures Act.

Though these events are far removed from the activities of the striking civil servants, the federal officials’ decision to attack critical infrastructure points could spill over, Professor Chandra believes.

The academic was one of the experts who testified during the public inquiry set up to assess the government’s decision to apply the Measures Act to protect the movement of essential goods and services.

The events of the past year have shown just how vulnerable we are, and perhaps unsurprisingly, other groups are now using this vulnerability to exploit what they now recognize as some sort of critical infrastructure gaphe explained.

Minor disruptions at borders and other critical infrastructure are likely to be annoying and in some cases costly, he said, but they tend to fade quickly from public memory compared to larger blockages.