Gov't workers close Burlington Canal Lift Bridge

Striking Canadian federal government workers shut down the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge, stopping bridge traffic and ships trying to enter or leave Hamilton Harbour.  

Eric Marshall, Burlington Canak Lift Bridge, 2011. CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Strikers close Burlington Canal Lift Bridge delaying ship access to Hamilton Harbour | The Hammer -Karen Longwell:

April 27, 2023 - "The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike, one of Canada’s largest labour disruptions, is now on its ninth day.... And strike action is reportedly ramping up. A tweet from a Global News reporter claimed organizers are 'escalating' actions including blocking access to passport offices, closing waterways and reducing access at borders.

"The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge is one of the waterway access points named and a PSAC spokesperson confirmed strikers were blocking access today (April 27) and yesterday. 'This morning our striking members picketed the Canal, as they did yesterday as well. Shutting it down and delaying ships,' Lino Vieira, a PSAC Ontario Political communications officer said in an email to intheHammer. 

"The vertical lift bridge ... allows vessels to enter and exit from Hamilton Harbour into Lake Ontario.

"It appears there is no end in sight for the strike. The Liberal government is showing no hints it will end the strike by legislating 155,000 federal civil servants back to work. The NDP say they will not support back-to-work legislation, while the Conservatives have not weighed in on the matter.

"The government is warning the strike is causing backlogs for immigration and passport applications, as well as massive Canada Revenue Agency slowdowns at the height of tax season."

Read more: https://www.insauga.com/strikers-close-burlington-canal-lift-bridge-delaying-ship-access-to-hamilton-harbour