Category: Collective Bargaining

Ratification votes for PSAC members in the four Treasury Board groups will begin on May 24 and end on June 16 at noon ET.  

In order for PSAC members to receive their new rates of pay, retroactive pay, and lump sum payment, the new agreements must first be ratified. To ensure this ratification process is done as quickly as possible, PSAC will be conducting an expedited ratification process. 

The ratification votes will be conducted using the same online voting platform used for strike votes earlier this year. 

• Review the ratification kit for your group: PA | SV | TC | EB 
• Read the tentative agreement and ratification vote FAQ

How to vote 

1. Check your email: All PSAC members in the four Treasury Board groups will receive an email from communications@psac-afpc.vote on May 24 with the link to PSAC’s voting platform and the credentials needed to log in. 
   
   If you do not receive an email on May 24, check your junk mail or promotions folders in your personal email account. If you’ve checked those folders and still don’t have the email, we may not have your personal email on file and you can fill out a PSAC membership form to update your contact information.
   
   Once you submit the online membership form, PSAC will issue your voting credentials to you as soon as possible.

2. Watch the information session video: You are required to watch the mandatory information session video before voting. You can log into PSAC’s voting platform at any time during the voting period using the credentials emailed to you. The video cannot be skipped and must be played to the end before you will be permitted to vote. After you’ve watched the video, follow the on-screen instructions to vote. You can log into the voting platform to watch the information session video and cast your vote at any point between May 24 and June 16 at noon ET.  

3. Submit your vote: The voting deadline is June 16 at noon ET. You can vote any time after watching the mandatory information video by following the instructions on-screen. You can also log back into the voting platform at a later time to cast your vote before the deadline, including after attending an optional Q&A session. 

Optional Q&A sessions 

Should you still have questions after watching the mandatory information video, you will have the opportunity to attend virtual or in-person live Q&A sessions to learn more about your tentative agreement

These sessions are not mandatory but will give you the opportunity to ask questions about your agreement with PSAC staff and your bargaining team. 

Virtual Q&A sessions 

These sessions will be held over zoom, and registration will open on May 24. PSAC has scheduled the following optional virtual Q&A sessions.  

You are NOT required to attend these sessions to be able to vote. 

These sessions are listed in eastern time but are open to all PA, SV, TC and EB members. Please choose the session for your classification group that best fits your schedule  

Not sure which group you belong to? You can see which bargaining group you belong to here.  

These sessions will be held over Zoom, and registration will open on May 24.PA Group

These sessions will be held over Zoom, and registration will open on May 24.

• Thursday, May 25, 12 p.m. ET – English 
• Thursday, May 25, 7 p.m. ET – English 
• Monday, May 29, 12 p.m. ET – French 
• Thursday, June 1, 7 p.m. ET – English 
• Wednesday, June 7, 9 p.m. ET – English 
• Thursday, June 8, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Thursday, June 15, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Friday, June 16, 9 a.m. ET – English

SV Group

These sessions will be held over Zoom, and registration will open on May 24.

• Wednesday, May 31, 9 p.m. ET – English 
• Monday, June 5, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Wednesday, June 7, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Wednesday, June 14, 12 p.m. ET – English

TC Group

These sessions will be held over Zoom, and registration will open on May 24.

• Wednesday, May 24, 9 p.m. ET – English 
• Tuesday, May 30, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Tuesday, June 6, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Tuesday, June 13, 7 p.m. ET – English 

EB Group

These sessions will be held over Zoom, and registration will open on May 24.

• Friday, May 26, 7 p.m. ET – French 
• Monday, June 12, 12 p.m. ET – English 
• Monday, June 12, 7 p.m. ET – English 

In-person Q&A sessions 

PSAC has scheduled the following optional virtual Q&A sessions for members working for Treasury Board. In-person sessions are open to all members of the four Treasury Board groups, as we will have bargaining team members from all teams in attendance.

These sessions will be held in the cities listed below. Information about date, time, and location of in-person sessions will be added as they become available. 
 
Note: These optional sessions are not required to be eligible to vote. Atlantic

• Charlottetown 
• Fredericton 
• Halifax 
• Moncton 
• St. John’s 

British Columbia

More information coming soon National Capital Region

More information coming soon North

There are no in-person Q&A sessions scheduled in the North. If you have questions before you vote, please register for a virtual Q&A session. Ontario

• Angus 
• Toronto
• Kingston 
• London: Tuesday, June 13, 5 p.m. ET, Victory Legion Branch #317, 311 Oakland Ave
• Petawawa 
• St. Catherine’s 
• Sudbury 
• Thunder Bay: Thursday, June 1, 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET, 326 Memorial Avenue (OPSEU Meeting Room)
• Trenton 

Prairies

More information coming soon Quebec

• Montreal 
• Québec City 
• St-Jean-Sur Richelieu 
• Trois-Rivières 

PA group ratification kit, including the full text of the agreement, now available
https://psacunion.ca/pa-group-ratification-kit-including-full-text-0

TC group ratification kit, including the full text of the agreement, now available
https://psacunion.ca/tc-group-ratification-kit-including-full-text-0?_ga=2.72395795.1007195725.1683752218-440728986.1644502320

SV group ratification kit, including the full text of the agreement, now available
https://psacunion.ca/sv-group-ratification-kit-including-full-text-0

EB group ratification kit, including the full text of the agreement, now available
https://psacunion.ca/eb-group-ratification-kit-including-full-text-0

Summary of PA group tentative agreement

Summary of SV group tentative agreement

Summary of TC Group tentative agreement

Summary of EB group tentative agreement

After nearly two years of bargaining leading to one of the largest strikes in Canadian history, PSAC has reached tentative agreements for the more than 120,000 Treasury Board workers who deliver critical services to Canadians.  

With the national strike now over for Treasury Board workers, members of the PA, SV, TC and EB bargaining groups are required to return to work beginning May 1 at 9 a.m. ET or their next scheduled shift after that date.

In this tentative agreement, PSAC has secured a fair contract for members that exceeds the employer’s original offer before the launch of strike action, and provides wage increases above the recommendations of the Public Interest Commission as well as those negotiated by other federal bargaining agents. It also provides significant new protections around remote work for PSAC members. 

“During a period of record-high inflation and soaring corporate profits, workers were told to accept less – but our members came together and fought for better,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC national president. “This agreement delivers important gains for our members that will set the bar for all workers in Canada.” 

This agreement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of PSAC members who held the line on fair wages and better working conditions. 

Highlights of the tentative agreement 

Wages that close the gap with inflation

PSAC negotiated wage increases totaling 12.6% compounded over the life of the agreement from 2021-2024. PSAC secured an additional fourth year in the agreement that protects workers from inflation, as well as a pensionable $2,500 one-time lump sum payment that represents an additional 3.7% of salary for the average PSAC member in Treasury Board bargaining units.  

2021-2024:

Year of the agreement	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Wage increase	1.5%	4.75%	3% + 0.5%*	2.25%	12%
Total compounded wage increase	1.5%	6.4%	10.1%	12.6%	12.6%

*wage adjustment of a minimum of 0.5% for all bargaining units 

One-time lump-sum payment 

For PSAC members approaching retirement, the pensionable lump sum payment will contribute to their average salary for their best five years of service, and increase their overall pension payments in retirement. 

Lump sum payment $2,500 (pensionable)	Example salary	Lump sum value  relative to salary
	$45,000	5.5%
	$55,000	4.5%
	$65,000	3.8%
	$75,000	3.3%

Strike action improves final wage offer

By securing an overwhelming strike mandate and following through with strong strike action, important gains were made to the employer’s final wage offer.  

In the graph below, you’ll see a comparison of the employer’s position on wages before PSAC declared strike action; the settlements achieved by other federal public service bargaining agents for the same time period; and the wage offer PSAC negotiated in the tentative agreement.  

* Based on an annual average salary of $67,300 for PSAC members at TB 

New and improved remote work language 

PSAC members will now have access to additional protection when subject to arbitrary decisions about remote work. We have also negotiated language in a letter of agreement that requires managers to assess remote work requests individually, not by group, and provide written responses that will allow members and PSAC to hold the employer accountable to equitable and fair decision-making on remote work.  

It will also result in the creation of joint union-employer departmental panels to address issues related to the employer’s application of the remote work directive in the workplace.  

Additional market adjustments and table-specific improvements

PSAC has also secured several table-specific wage adjustments and other improvements that will be fully outlined in the coming days.   

Safer and more inclusive workplaces

Everyone in the federal government can benefit from anti-racism and discrimination training. That’s why we’ve reached an agreement to create a joint committee to review the existing training courses related to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to ensure employees are fully aware of training opportunities available to them during their work hours.  

We also know a diverse workforce with strong Indigenous representation means a better public service for all. With the new addition of paid leave for Indigenous employees to engage in traditional Indigenous practices, including hunting, fishing and harvesting, the government will be better able to attract and retain more Indigenous workers and recognize their lived experiences. 

Protections against contracting out 

Privatization and contracting out in the federal public service out lead to higher costs, more risk, and reduced quality of services for Canadians. PSAC has negotiated language to ensure that in the event of layoffs, PSAC members will not lose their job if they can perform the duties of a contractor already working with the federal government. This language will protect public service jobs and reduce contracting out in the federal public service. 

The government has also committed to a consultation process on the issues associated with contracting out in the federal public service. 

Seniority under Workforce Adjustment Directive

PSAC and the employer have agreed to submit a joint proposal to the Public Service Commission of Canada to include seniority rights in the Workforce Adjustment process. 

Other gains at the bargaining table

PSAC also made important improvements on a number of issues, ranging from a commitment to review the bilingual allowance, an increase to shift premiums, leave for union business and other types of leave. A detailed summary of these improvements will follow in the coming days. 

Full text and next steps

In the coming days, a full explanation of the new agreements, and a copy of the new language, will be provided once they have been fully translated for the PA, SV, TC and EB groups. PSAC members will shortly thereafter be invited to participate in online ratification votes. Details about the votes will be shared as soon as possible.  

The PSAC bargaining teams recommend the ratification of the tentative agreement. 

It’s clear the Liberal government is feeling the pressure as we escalate our strike actions across the country. But we’ve been clear – the offer the government has on the table simply doesn’t cut it. And while we’ve had our sleeves rolled up for the past two years and have been ready to negotiate day and night to reach a fair deal, this government has consistently dragged out negotiations and tried to nickel and dime Canada’s workers. 

Without a wage increase since the beginning of the pandemic, our members have fallen behind inflation to the tune of nearly 11% of their earnings. After losing more ground to runaway prices than workers in any other sector for years, the government is now saying Canada’s public service workers should be happy with an offer that leaves them even further behind. 

And let’s not forget, these are the same members who delivered essential services to Canadians in a time of crisis. Imagine working every day and not having a contract, and because of Phoenix, not even knowing if you will be paid at all. These are regular Canadians who show up day in and day out to do the work that keeps our country running. 

We came to the table with demands that reflect the need for significant change in our members’ workplaces. Workers deserve fair wages that keep up with rising costs, remote work to be spelled out in their contract and better job security. Those demands haven’t been met at the table, and we will continue to prioritize the needs of our members until we reach a fair deal. 

The truth is, we don’t want a strike any more than our members; any more than Canadians; any more than this government. But we’ve been at the table for nearly two years. How long can workers wait? 

We’re calling on the Liberal government to work with us on getting to a fair deal so that members can leave the picket lines behind and return to the work they’re proud to do.  

April 23, 2023

PSAC National President Chris Aylward delivered the following message to members of the Treasury Board and CRA bargaining teams 

Friends, 

You may have seen the headlines this weekend – things didn’t get off to a great start.  

We made some progress in the end, but we’re not there yet. 

I can report that at the Treasury Board common issues table, we made some headway on remote work language, and both sides have moved in order to get closer to a resolution on wage increases. 

At the CRA bargaining table, talks continue but without a new mandate from the employer, things haven’t moved much further. 

So we’re not at the finish line yet, but I know that we can get to a fair deal for all 155,000 PSAC members thanks to the strong strike mandate you’ve delivered and the incredible solidarity you’ve shown from coast to coast to coast. 

As we moved towards our strike deadline last week, the employer finally put a wage offer of 9% over three years on the table. You did that. 

And when you hit the picket lines, it’s the first time we saw real progress at the table. You did that. 

Even if the government seems content to prolong this strike and its impact on Canadians, I know you have the collective power to get us to a fair deal in the coming days. And tomorrow we’re going to escalate our actions. 

See you on the picket lines on Monday! 

In solidarity, 

Chris Aylward 

PS: I know many of you still have lots of questions so we’ve updated our FAQ.  

April 22, 2023

This afternoon, PSAC’s National President, Chris Aylward, National Executive Vice President Sharon DeSousa and Regional Executive Vice President — NCR, Alex Silas gave a bargaining update on Treasury Board bargaining. 

Watch now

While members are not on picket lines this weekend, we are still on strike, including members who are regularly scheduled to work on the weekend, and if we don’t reach a deal by Sunday, workers will be back on picket lines Monday morning. Members and public supporters can find the nearest picket line using PSAC’s picket line finder tool.   

UNE is receiving a lot of questions regarding strike pay top-up. Unfortunately, UNE does not have a strike fund and does not provide strike pay top-up. However, some UNE Locals have established strike funds and may provide some additional financial assistance during the strike. Members should contact their Local Executive to inquire about possible assistance during the strike.

Furthermore, there are some UNE Locals who established strike funds, but those funds cannot be accessed because the Local has been inactive for quite some time and they have not complied with the requirements set out in the UNE Bylaws. In order for those funds to be accessed, Locals need to hold an annual general meeting, hold elections and present financial statements for approval. The Local will then designate signatories and have those members change the signatures on the account at the bank. Once those steps have been completed, the Local will have access to funds and may choose to provide financial assistance retroactively. UNE staff will assist Locals in completing these steps and getting your Local active again.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance. We understand this is a difficult time for our striking members and information coming from every angle can be overwhelming and confusing.

We are here to help. Please contact your Deputy Trustee Teams if you have questions.

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. 

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. 

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. 

“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. 

For information or interviews: 

PSAC media relations 
media@psac-afpc.com 
(613) 714-6610