Union exec arrested as striking military base workers picket in Ottawa

A union executive was arrested Wednesday outside a National Defence building in Ottawa, as unionized military base workers blocked the street.

Non-public funds workers at Canadian military bases in Ontario and Quebec walked off the job last month, demanding fair wages, a national pay grid for all non-public funds workers in Canada and better job security.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the union representing the striking workers, was set to hold a media availability outside the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre at 1600 Star Top Rd. Wednesday morning, but before the availability began, at least one person was arrested. Video shows Alex Silas, PSAC's regional executive vice-president, in handcuffs, shouting "solidarity" as police open up a cruiser.

The striking workers briefly surrounded the police cruiser before it drove away with Silas in the back seat. 

Canadian Labour Congress executive vice-president Larry Rousseau told CTV News Ottawa that Silas's arrest is unacceptable.

"He is a labour leader in this city. He is leading this strike and for him to be detained or to be arrested is absolutely unacceptable," Rousseau said.

Late Wednesday afternoon, several people rallied outside Ottawa police headquarters on Elgin Street, calling for Silas's release. Silas posted on Instagram last Wednesday night that he had been released.

"Thank you to everyone who reached out with messages of support and to everyone who came out to rally for my release," Silas said.

"There will be a lot more to say but for now I’m just happy to be home."

On Thursday, police said Silas had been charged with mischief, causing a disturbance by impeding, intimidation by blocking or obstructing the roadway, and counsel an uncommitted indictable offence. 

Workers call for employer to come to the table

Workers at the picket on Wednesday said they want their employer, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), to get back to the bargaining table.

"It's very disappointing that our employeer CFMWS has walked away from the bargaining table and left us hanging," said Elvira Berdais, who works at CFB Kingston.

"Believe it or not, I'm actually making more money picketing than I am at my actual full time job so it means a lot to all of us to be able to get a fair and equal pay. The public sector are making about seven to 10 dollars more an hour than we are and we want to make the same amount of money they are, doing the same jobs."

June Winger, the national president for the Union of National Defence Employees, a component of PSAC, said Morale and Welfare Services has not come to the table with anything meaningful.

"They say that their final offer remains their final offer although it's significantly less than what they're paying all the rest of their other employees," Winger said. "We're going to stay out here and do whatever we have to do until we can get a fair contract, until the members can get the respect that they've earned and deserve. The same respect that all the other CFMWS employees also receive."

In a statement, Ian Poulter, the CEO of CFMWS writes that it "regrets an agreement has not been reached to date and remains open to further negotiations to reach an agreement as required. We are steadfast in our commitment to our Canadian Armed Forces communities and hope to mitigate any disruptions to services as much as possible during this time.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Katie Griffin and Josh Pringle.