Support staff at Canadian Forces Base 15 Wing Moose Jaw have walked off the job after contract negotiations with their employer reached an impasse. Members of the Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE) Local 40807 began a rotating strike on Tuesday, setting up picket lines at the air base.
The strike action comes after a failed conciliation attempt between the union and Sodexo Canada, the contracted employer. The union's parent organization, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), issued a statement saying bargaining has stalled over key issues including fair wages and benefits.
“At a time when Canadians rely on safe, clean and well-functioning base operations, workers should not be forced to strike to be heard,” said Marianne Hladun, PSAC’s regional executive vice-president for the Prairies.
UNDE Local 40807 represents 35 employees at the base, including cooks, general help staff, and custodial workers. Hladun described these employees as “critical” to the base's operations in a social media video from the picket line.
Bargaining between Sodexo and the local union has been ongoing for a year and a half. The collective agreement expired on December 31, 2023. According to union updates, negotiations reached an impasse in December 2025, prompting Sodexo to request a third-party conciliator. Members voted in favor of a strike mandate during conciliation talks in March.
The rotating strike is expected to continue until a new agreement is reached, with both sides expressing willingness to return to the bargaining table.
