Winnipeg public service workers rally ahead of labour negotiations

A few dozen workers rallied on Broadway Wednesday afternoon, calling on the federal Liberals to provide more for public service employees in labour negotiations.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada, a union representing federal public service workers, organized the rally in advance of several groups of workers heading back to the bargaining table this month.

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"This is a day for our members to come out and show support for their bargaining team. The current Liberal government has not changed the mandate from the Conservatives at the bargaining table," said Marianne Hladun, a vice-president for PSAC in the Prairies.

Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Parks Canada workers are all at the bargaining table in June.

"We want to see a decent, fair economic increase, something similar to what MPs and Senators got, and we also want them to remove changing our sick leave plan to short-term disability that was a commitment that this government made and we want it to stay in our collective agreement," said Hladun.

Robyn Benson, PSAC's president, said teams begin bargaining again June 18, and they want to send a message to the federal Liberals.

"Since the Liberals have been elected, we thought there would be something different. Obviously our members voted Liberal," said Benson. "Nowwhat we haveis the same mandate that the Conservative governments gave to us."

Public service workers also rallied in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Maritimes.

"If we're not here, it's Canadians that suffer," said Hladun.