Locked out postal workers took their fight for higher wages and guaranteed pensions to the Yonge and Dundas intersection Wednesday morning.

The rally, which was attended by about 600 mail carriers from the Greater Toronto Area, began and 9 and lasted throughout the morning.

It also attracted representatives from several other unions.

To accommodate the crowd, police closed the curb lane of Dundas Street East.

"You are seeing people here from every occupation and every sector of the economy because they all know what is at stake," John Cartwright, president of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, told CP24. "The CEO is saying that the next generation of Canadians is worth less than we are and we are not going to stand for that. They want to cut the wages of new people who are starting and that's happening across the board."

The federal government stepped into the labour dispute by tabling back-to-work legislation earlier this week after Canada Post and the union representing the workers failed to negotiate a settlement.

The legislation sets wage hikes at 1.75 per cent in 2011, 1.5 per cent in 2012, 2 per cent in 2013 and 2014.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is against the legislation because the wage increases are lower than those offered by Canada Post.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt previously said that the wages were reflective of the agreement the federal government has with its own unions.

Canada Post said the job action has already cost it $100 million in lost revenue.

The Crown corporation has said the main sticking point in the dispute is the union's demand for staffing levels beyond the capability of Canada Post, adding that wages were not the key disagreement.

The union has been emphasizing working conditions and safety issues, as well as arguing that new employees would receive inferior wages and pensions.

"These workers have worked really hard to build their pensions plans and to have the government take it away is really disrespectful," Marie Clarke-Walker of the Canadian Labour Council told CP24.

Canada Post locked out the workers last week after the union held rotating strikes in cities across Canada.

On Wednesday the workers made it clear that they wanted to return to work under a new deal chanting "Locked out. Not on strike."

With files from The Canadian Press