WASHINGTON — The spectacle of buttoned-down Canadian diplomats picketing Canada’s embassy drew some fascinated stares Friday from tourists and other passersby in the U.S. capital.
About three dozen placard-waving foreign service workers marched in front of the famed Capitol Hill building in an “information picket” aimed at shining the spotlight on stalled negotiations between the federal government and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers.
The union has been in a legal strike position since talks with the Treasury Board broke down a month ago. The workers say they are underpaid compared to other public servants with similar qualifications and experience.
The 1,350 union members have already taken part in work-to-rule campaigns that have included refusing to work overtime or to respond to work-related emails after hours.
Though hitting the bricks might go against the discreet, generally well-behaved nature of diplomats, the picket was necessary to highlight significant wage gaps that have been “festering” for years, said union president Tim Edwards.
“We’re coming here simply because the U.S. is Canada’s most important trading partner and ally, this is our largest mission abroad, and this is one of our largest complements of foreign service officers abroad,” Edwards said.
“This was a logical place to raise the profile of our issues abroad, which is equal pay for equal work.”
A week ago, foreign service workers in Ottawa held similar pickets at Foreign Affairs headquarters. Edwards said there may be information pickets at other foreign embassies in the weeks to come if negotiations remain at a stalemate.
Canadian diplomats picket outside Canada’s own embassy in D.C. | National Post
About three dozen placard-waving foreign service workers marched in front of the famed Capitol Hill building in an “information picket” aimed at shining the spotlight on stalled negotiations between the federal government and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers.
The union has been in a legal strike position since talks with the Treasury Board broke down a month ago. The workers say they are underpaid compared to other public servants with similar qualifications and experience.
The 1,350 union members have already taken part in work-to-rule campaigns that have included refusing to work overtime or to respond to work-related emails after hours.
Though hitting the bricks might go against the discreet, generally well-behaved nature of diplomats, the picket was necessary to highlight significant wage gaps that have been “festering” for years, said union president Tim Edwards.
“We’re coming here simply because the U.S. is Canada’s most important trading partner and ally, this is our largest mission abroad, and this is one of our largest complements of foreign service officers abroad,” Edwards said.
“This was a logical place to raise the profile of our issues abroad, which is equal pay for equal work.”
A week ago, foreign service workers in Ottawa held similar pickets at Foreign Affairs headquarters. Edwards said there may be information pickets at other foreign embassies in the weeks to come if negotiations remain at a stalemate.
Canadian diplomats picket outside Canada’s own embassy in D.C. | National Post
