Politics · Canada · 1 hr ago
PSAC to hold strike votes for 120,000 federal workers
Canada’s largest federal public service union plans strike votes for 120,000 workers from Nov.
16 to Jan.
22.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, or PSAC, says contract talks with the federal government have broken down after a year and a half of negotiations.
The dispute covers wages, job security, remote work and AI protections, which the union says the government has not negotiated on.
The workers include wildland firefighters, passport and benefit officers, fishery officers, federal teachers, librarians and administrative staff.
A successful vote would put the union in a legal strike position for 60 days, but PSAC says a strike is a last resort.
In 2023, 155,000 federal public servants spent nearly two weeks on picket lines and won wage increases of 12.6 per cent over their contract term.
The current dispute comes amid job cuts and increased office attendance, and the union says it wants a fair agreement; the next step is the strike votes.
PSAC says 120,000 federal workers will take part in nationwide strike votes from Nov. 16 to Jan. 22.
The union says contract talks with the federal government have broken down after a year and a half of negotiations.
PSAC says the government has refused to negotiate on wages, job security, remote work and protections against artificial intelligence.
If workers approve a strike mandate, the union would be in a legal strike position for 60 days.
PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa says a strike is a last resort and the union’s goal is a good collective agreement.
- Who
- The Public Service Alliance of Canada and 120,000 federal workers.
- What
- PSAC says the workers will vote on whether to authorize a strike.
- When
- Voting is scheduled from Nov. 16 to Jan. 22. The year is not stated for those dates.
- Where
- Nationwide in Canada.
- Why
- Contract talks with the federal government have broken down. PSAC says the government has refused to negotiate on key issues, including wages and job security.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
PSAC and Treasury Board began contract negotiations.
PSAC called the government’s wage offer of less than one per cent per year insulting.
PSAC announced nationwide strike votes for 120,000 federal workers.
The strike votes are scheduled to take place.
- Workers affected
- 120,000 federal workers
- Voting period
- Nov. 16 to Jan. 22
- Negotiating parties
- Public Service Alliance of Canada and Treasury Board
- Key issues cited by PSAC
- Wages, job security, remote work and protections against artificial intelligence
- Potential legal strike position
- 60 days if the vote passes
3 sources
What people are saying
The government has left us no other choice,
This is a wake-up call for the government to stop playing games and put a fair offer on the table.
Our goal is to get a good collective agreement, and it doesn’t have to lead to a strike, but we will if required to do so.