150,000 federal public service workers go on strike today including CRA workers
TORONTO, April 19, 2023 Picket lines will go up across the country April 19 as more than 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada members working for Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency begin strike action.
“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC national president. “Now more than ever, workers need fair wages, good working conditions and inclusive workplaces. And it’s clear the only way we’ll achieve that is by taking strike action to show the government that workers can’t wait.”
Strike action will begin at 12:01am ET April 19 – setting the stage for one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history.
One of the key issues is a 4.5% wage increase annually while the government is offering 3%. Working from home is also one of the key issues with the feds ordering workers back to the office two to three days a week by March 31. But PSAC says that plan has proceeded without a comprehensible framework in place that supports the workers.
“We’ve got members that go into the workplace now, there’s no desk, there’s no computer for them to work at. They’re getting back in their cars and driving back home again,” said PSAC President Chris Aylward.
The federal government says it has “done everything it can to reach a deal and avoid disrupting the services that Canadians rely on…Our goal has always been to reach agreements that are fair and competitive for employees, and reasonable for taxpayers.”
The Government says it has “presented a fair, competitive offer to the PSAC and responded to all their demands. This includes a 9% wage increase over three years, as well as proposals on other important PSAC priorities, such telework, shift premiums, improved leave with pay for family-related responsibilities, and measures to support employment equity and diversity and inclusion.”
PSAC says that picket lines will be set up in more than 250 locations across the country. Members and public supporters can find the nearest picket line using PSAC’s picket line finder tool.
Slowdowns expected for Canadians
With nearly a third of the entire federal public service workers on strike, Canadians can expect to see slowdowns or a complete shutdown of services nationwide beginning tomorrow, including a complete halt of the tax season; disruptions to employment insurance, immigration, and passport applications; interruptions to supply chains and international trade at ports; and slowdowns at the border with administrative staff on strike.
The CRA said Wednesday morning that it will prioritize benefit payments with the capacity it has and that the Canada child benefit won’t be affected. Canadians can also still file their taxes and those filing digitally will automatically be processed.
“While there are no plans to extend tax filing deadlines, the CRA will continue to accept all tax returns. Those that are filed digitally, which represent the vast majority of T1 and T2 returns, will largely be processed automatically by our systems without delay,” it said.
“While there are no plans to extend tax filing deadlines, the CRA will continue to accept all tax returns. Those that are filed digitally, which represent the vast majority of T1 and T2 returns, will largely be processed automatically by our systems without delay,” it said.
In a press release from the federal government they say Canadians can retrieve up-to-date information on service impacts at Canada.ca/labour-disruptions, through social media and through other channels used by Canadians.
“We want to assure Canadians that essential services that protect the safety and security of the public will continue to be delivered, such as:
- Employment Insurance payments
- Canada Pension Plan payments
- Veterans’ income support
- Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments”
reads the statement.
“As we begin this historic strike, PSAC bargaining teams will remain at the table night and day as they have been for weeks,” Aylward said. “We’re ready to reach a fair deal as soon as the government is ready to come to the table with a fair offer.”
Negotiations between PSAC and Treasury Board began in June 2021, but reached impasse in May 2022.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is Canada’s largest federal public service union, representing nearly 230,000 workers in every province and territory in Canada, including more than 120,000 federal public service workers employed by Treasury Board, and more than 35,000 employed by the Canada Revenue Agency.
The Government of Canada also says that it “recognizes the important contributions of public servants and will continue negotiations with the PSAC to reach an agreement quickly that would get needed wage increases into employees’ hands as soon as possible.”
For details on how every federal service may be affected, Canadians can find information here.
Quick Facts
Associated Links
- Collective bargaining – Canada.ca
- Labour disruptions – Canada.ca
- The Government remains committed to reaching fair agreements – Canada.ca
- The Government of Canada responds to the Public Service Alliance of Canada strike vote – Canada.ca
- Government of Canada to Begin Mediation with Public Service Alliance of Canada
Other articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca
