Military Commander Threatens Legal Action Over Union Picketing at Kingston Base

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada watch a performance as they picket outside Place du Portage in Gatineau, Que., on April 28, 2023. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

The commander of a military base has issued a warning to one of the largest components of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) to cease all blockade activities at his base immediately or face legal action.

In a letter to the Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE) Local 00641, Colonel Sonny Hatton of the Canadian Forces Base Kingston in Ontario told its president, Chris Snooks, that striking bureaucrats who block access to the military base must stop their “illegal picketing activities” right away.

“We … respectfully ask that you take the appropriate measures to ensure that all unlawful picketing activities cease immediately,” said the letter dated April 28. “If they continue, we will have no other option but to pursue available legal options without further notice.”

Hundreds of striking PSAC members blocked gates to CFB Kingston on April 26 amid a bargaining stalemate. A spokesperson told The Epoch Times at the time that the blockades impacted the “day-to-day function at the base,” and “delayed” operational and emergency traffic.

According to the letter, UNDE Local 00641, which represents employees from the Department of National Defence (DND) in Kingston, has been communicating with Hatton.

Offences

Hatton said while he respects the union’s right to strike, it has to abide by the law and respect the Essential Services Agreement that was signed between PSAC and the Treasury Board.

“Picket Captains and their fellow picketers have prevented CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] members, employees occupying essential, excluded, and unrepresented positions, as well as other personnel, from entering CFB Kingston,” he wrote.

“Furthermore, there are approximately 3500 CAF members and their families who are being denied free unobstructed movement to and from their residences at CFB Kingston.”

The commander said picketers have sealed off at least four entrances to the base, including the Royal Military College Gate, McNaughton Gate, Vimy Gate South, and Vimy Gate North Gate. He warned of possible charges should the involved public servants keep up with the blockades.

“Blocking access to premises, obstructing the public or employees from entering or leaving premises, and significantly delaying vehicles (5-15 minutes total delay is seen as excessive) may constitute various offences under the Criminal Code and may also render the employees involved liable to administrative and disciplinary action, as well as other measures.”

The letter said that “these employees do not have the right to strike” under the Federal Public Service Sector Labour Relations Act and “are expected to report to work,” though Hatton did not elaborate on which clauses in the act would prohibit their participation.

The commander did acknowledge that DND employees represented by PSAC as of April 12 “have been in a legal position,” and that “majority of locations across the country have been lawfully picketed.”

PSAC did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

‘Comprehensive Offer’

The blockade at the military base came shortly after PSAC President Chris Aylward warned on April 24 that the union would move its picket lines to “strategic locations” in order to cause greater disruption to the federal government.

That same day, striking workers briefly blocked the Port of Montreal in Quebec, the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia, and the Port of St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The next day on April 25, workers in Ottawa temporarily blocked access to the Prime Minister’s Office building and the Treasury Board headquarters, while another group blocked vehicles on a bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau, Quebec, where many federal buildings are located.

The union is asking for a 13.5 percent pay raise spread out over three years, while the Liberal government has offered a 9 percent raise over the same period—a move the Treasury Board said will add an average salary increase of $6,250 to employees.

In the afternoon of April 28, the federal government tabled a new contract offer to PSAC. The press secretary for Treasury Board President Mona Fortier called it a “comprehensive offer” but provided no further details.

In a series of tweets, the PSAC confirmed receiving the offer as talks resumed Friday.

“We hope to continue bargaining this weekend in order to reach a fair deal for our 120,000 federal public service members,” the union said.

“Talks are also ongoing for our 35,000 members at Canada Revenue Agency. We’ll be providing no other details at this time.”

Matthew Horwood and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.