PSAC now telling federal employees to ‘buy local’ amid backlash [Video]

A federal public service union is now encouraging its members to “buy local” and support neighbourhood businesses, one day after a social media post suggested federal workers boycott downtown Ottawa businesses in an apparent retaliation for the return-to-office mandate.

“The confusion and controversy that the post stirred is regrettable,” PSAC national executive vice president Alex Silas told Newstalk 580 CFRA in an email, adding PSAC did not call for a “boycott.”

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On Wednesday, a post by the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) Ottawa Area Council said, “Buy Nothing.”

“The needs of the downtown core shouldn’t fall on the back of workers and the federal public service. How workers spend their money on in-office days will send a clear message to politicians.”

In a new post Wednesday night, PSAC NCR said, “Buy Local,” adding it’s …