Largest public sector strike in Newfoundland’s history

Province's public sector paralysed as more than 19,000 workers walk off the job

More than 19,000 public sector workers have walked off the job in Newfoundland, paralysing the province’s public sector.

The main issues in the dispute are wages and pensions. Wages in the province’s public sector have risen just seven per cent in 11 years.

Two unions are involved in the strike: the Newfoundland Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), representing 16,400 striking workers, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), whose Newfoundland branch represents about 2,700 workers.

The two sides are not that far apart: unions are asking for 15 per cent, but the province says the best they can do, given the impending economic slowdown, is 13 per cent over three years.

Other strikes across Canada
Strikes are taking place right across the country including:

Victoria
500 transit workers are on strike.

Vancouver
Transit system workers are on strike.

Calgary
The strike of the city's transit system has now been going on for more than a month.

Toronto
13,000 support staff from Toronto public schools are on strike.

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