The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has authorized a national general strike that began at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. The strike impacts Six Nations of the Grand River's federally run schools as well as Ohsweken Public Health, as local PSAC Union members.

The five Federal Elementary Schools on Six Nations and teaching staff are operate under Indigenous Services Canada and include Jamieson, J.C. Hill, Emily C. General, I.L. Thomas, and Oliver M. Smith. As a result more than 1,100 students and their families on Six Nations are affected.

In addition, Ohsweken Public Health is operated by Health Canada and maintenance staff can exercise their right to strike. But most nursing staff are classified as essential workers, so they are not able to take strike action.

Six Nations Elected Chief Mark Hill released a press release late on Tuesday.

“The PSAC strike has impacted our Six Nations of the Grand River community and has the SNGR Elected Council concerned for all of our members, students and families,” the statement reads.

“We are maintaining regular contact with federal officials in hopes of alleviating as much stress as possible through this difficult time. We will continue to assert political pressure to get all those affected in our community back to their regular routines as quickly as possible,” the statement continues. The elected council also says more updates will be coming.

The PSAC authorized national general strike includes its 155,000 PSAC members working for the Canada Revenue Agency and Treasury Board, excluding essential workers. The decision to strike was based on the federal government and PSAC not coming to an agreement on key issues such as wages, job security and remote work. 

CKRZ reached out to Six Nations Public Health for a comment but they declined.

Listen to the report below: