Public service unions fight 'ridiculous' 3-day in-office mandate

A dramatic picture painted by unions. Bed bugs, bats, mice, cockroaches, Mold, odors, Poor air quality, Missing or broken equipment. Trash littering workstations about the apparent consequences of telling public servants to go back to the office three days a week up from the current 2. Forcing our members to wait in traffic waste time setting up their workstation to sit in an unassigned desk disconnected from their colleagues to take video calls all day is completely ridiculous. Attempting to book a seat for the week is now like trying to get tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. Unions concerned about not enough office space, especially with the government's plan to sell off more buildings. They say they weren't consulted, they're taking legal action and they'll use every recourse they have talking about coordinated actions on the streets and in the workplace. But they won't reveal tactics yet. We're not just looking to go back to two days a week, we're here to say we're ready to fight to scrap the entire in office policy of this government, now the Trudeau Liberal government. Better prepare itself for a summer of discontent. A hybrid work environment is not within the collective agreements. Ottawa is not backing down, noting a four month transition period. Most important thing is to continue to deliver services for Canadians and to protect taxpayer dollars. Taxpayer dollars. And what about taxpayer opinions? Many outside the public service have long been back at the office full time since COVID. I think government employees should work in a government office. People that work at home, I don't believe give you 8 hours a day work. Working from home, it kind of you know, creates a part of laziness in some persons mind. I find myself personally more productive working at the office. As long as they're working, they do they. Job, I think, doesn't matter at home or in the office. I certainly do work from home. Do you think it's more productive? Absolutely. I'm on the clock right now. Picking up stuff for my job. Abigail Beeman, Global News, Ottawa.