Federal worker strike at lift bridge delays ships seeking to enter Hamilton’s port

A priority picket line" of striking federal government workers at the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge was expected to delay ships for hours from entering or leaving the port of Hamilton.

Tens of thousands of government workers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada went on strike April 19 seeking wage increases in the face of inflation, better remote-work policies and protection from contracting out of federal work, among other things.

Ontario union spokesperson Lino Vieira said the escalated" strike action at the entrance to the largest provincial port is part of a strategy to pressure the federal government to address our key bargaining priorities and settle this labour dispute fairly."

Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority spokesperson Larissa Fenn confirmed the picket line at the bridge was expected to result in a three-hour wait for vessels seeking to enter or leave Hamilton Harbour.

Entry to the harbour via the shipping canal is controlled by the lift bridge, which is raised to allow large vessels to pass and lowered to allow car traffic to cross the canal on Beach Boulevard and Eastport Drive.

The bridge cannot be raised when striking workers are on it.

Strike action in the area Wednesday caused a similar delay for ships of about two hours.

Fenn said the delays are a concern because any bridge closure has a cascading effect through the supply chain."

But she added a main concern for the port authority is ensuring safety of picketers at the industrial site.

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com