Commissionaires union announces strike at CFB Kingston, Royal Military College

About 75 Commissionaires will hit the picket line outside Kingston’s Royal Military College and Canadian Forces Base Kingston on Monday.

According to Fred Ebel, president of PSAC Local 818, which represents the security officials who work at Kingston’s military institutions, negotiations have fallen through with Commissionaires Kingston, and no new talks are planned for the coming weekend.

The union is seeking paid sick days in a new contract as well as a footwear allowance.

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In a news release, the union says the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires was created to provide meaningful, dignified employment to Canada’s veterans. Yet, in Kingston, veterans working for the Commissionaires are earning just above minimum wage with no sick days, the news release says.

WATCH: Kingston commissionaires looking for a new contract

0:36 Kingston commissionaires looking for a new contract

Col. Kirk Gallinger, base commander at CFB Kingston, says he is not worried about the safety of the base, and that he will find appropriate measures to fill the spots of those out on the picket lines.

“In some cases we will have some supervisory commissionaires, those individuals for whatever contract they have they are not entitled to strike,” said Gallinger.

Gallinger also said some military members may have to step in to maintain security around the base.