Federal Public Service employees on strike are escalating their pressure tactics in the labor dispute between them and Ottawa. Dozens of them demonstrated today at the Lacolle border crossing between Canada and the United States before gathering near the Jacques Cartier Bridge south of Montreal in central Quebec.

In Quebec, Yvon Barrier, Vice President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), warned that traffic is very likely to slow down in several places in Canada, including at the Lacolle border crossing south of Montreal.

The spokesperson considers the strike to be their last resort to push the Treasury Board to negotiate.

Early this morning, protesters took about 15 buses to the city of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle south of Montreal, without their protest movement disrupting the entry and exit of vehicles at the Canada-US border.

Also, a number of striking employees gathered this afternoon near the Jacques Cartier Bridge south of Montreal. Meanwhile, others demonstrated in the streets of Saint-Foy in Quebec City, the capital of Quebec province. Similarly, the city of Shannon in Quebec witnessed similar protests yesterday, prompting the administration of three schools there to suspend classes today, fearing that new protest movements could impede safe access to school for students.

It is worth noting that Federal Treasury Board President Mona Fortier indicated yesterday that there is "little room to reach an agreement," calling on strikers to reduce their wage demands.

For his part, Yvon Barrier clarifies that Ottawa’s offers are insufficient to keep up with the inflation rate. He adds: "We hope that Mrs. Mona Fortier and her team understand the issue we want to negotiate as soon as possible."

The union leader also confirms that no negotiations have taken place between the two parties for nearly a full day, criticizing the Treasury Board for holding its members "hostage."

It is worth noting that more than 155,000 federal government employees started a strike on April 19, representing about one-third of the total number of federal public sector employees in the country.

The issues under dispute are wage increases, remote work, job security, and subcontracting. Yvon Barrier says the annual salary of Public Service employees on strike ranges between $40,000 and $60,000.

In an interview with local media, Treasury Board President Mona Fortier described the government’s offer of a 9% salary increase over three years as "reasonable," while union members are demanding a 13.5% increase for the same period.

Thousands of public employees gathered yesterday in front of federal buildings to send a clear message to the liberal federal government led by Justin Trudeau.