Union leadership has reported that a group of civilian employees at 15 Wing Moose Jaw were locked out without prior notice, just one day after they initiated a rotating strike. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), representing the Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE) Local 40807, stated that its members were turned away from their scheduled shifts on Wednesday morning by employer Sodexo Canada.
According to PSAC, Sodexo did not provide the required 48-hour notice for locking out workers at the Canadian Armed Forces air base. A spokesperson for Sodexo Canada declined to comment on the ongoing labour dispute on Wednesday.
"These actions show a disregard for workers and their rights," said Marianne Hladun, PSAC's regional vice-president for the Prairies, in a prepared statement. "Our members deserve a fair contract, decent wages and benefits, and respect throughout this process."
Union members began their strike after negotiations for a new contract stalled and the sides failed to reach an agreement through a neutral third-party conciliator. PSAC noted that the key bargaining issues include fair wages and benefits, as the local's previous collective agreement expired on December 31, 2023.
Talks between UNDE and Sodexo reached an impasse in December 2025, with Sodexo seeking a resolution through an independent conciliator. After those talks failed, employees hit the picket line on Tuesday and were locked out the next day.
UNDE 40807 represents 35 workers at the base near Moose Jaw, including custodial staff, cooks, and general support workers. In a video posted to social media from the picket line on Tuesday, Hladun emphasized that these employees are critical to operations at 15 Wing.
"At a time when Canadians rely on safe, clean, and well-functioning base operations, workers should not be forced to strike to be heard," Hladun said in a previous release.
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