(Ottawa) Federal public servants will be on strike in the early hours. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the federal government failed to reach a tentative agreement Tuesday night.
The union had issued an ultimatum the day before: the two sides had to reach an agreement by 9 p.m. Tuesday or 155,000 civil servants across the country would go on general strike. Many government services will be affected, including the processing of tax returns, passport applications and immigration applications.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was hoping for a settlement. “I know that Canadians expect us to continue to deliver the services they rely on,” he said before question period. That’s why I want to make sure that the two parties at the negotiating table continue their work with great intensity to be able to resolve this issue. »
Contingency plans have been prepared at the Canada Revenue Agency, the Department of Employment and Social Development and the Department of Immigration. Of the 155,000 civil servants who voted for the strike, 32,000 must provide essential services.
“Our services will not be reduced to zero no matter what, but the appropriate government response may depend on the nature and duration of any work stoppages as well as our ability to leverage the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that will be able to continue to operate,” said Minister Sean Fraser before the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
For example, a minimum number of staff will continue to respond to inquiries in ministry offices at embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world.
Federal civil servants have been without a contract since 2021. The PSAC is calling for a salary increase of 13.5% over three years, or 4.5% annually to offset rising inflation. This increase would cover the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Treasury Board instead proposed 9% over three years on Monday.
On the same day, the Consumer Price Index fell below 5% to stop at 4.3% in March. This is still twice as high as the 2% inflation rate targeted by the Bank of Canada. She hopes to achieve it by the end of 2024.
The PSAC also wanted to include telework in the collective agreement. Employees in all departments were to return to in-person work two to three days a week by March 31. Only the departments of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Employment and Social Development; of Public Services and Procurement and the Canada Revenue Agency were able to obtain an extension.
The last walkout of this magnitude dates back to 1991 when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives were in power.
The government does not rule out the use of a special law for the return to work of civil servants. The New Democratic Party vehemently opposes it.