PSAC says strike will begin Wednesday if no deal reached with federal government

OTTAWA –

The country’s largest federal public service union says if a deal isn’t reached with the federal government by 9 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday, it will strike this Wednesday.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says some 155,000 employees are prepared to walk off the job, including 35,000 workers from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Mediated contract negotiations between the union and the Treasury Board continued over the weekend in what the union described as the government’s final chance to reach a deal.

The biggest sticking point in the talks appears to be pay increases, as the union is calling for raises to keep up with the rising cost of living and historic inflation.

The government offered a roughly two per cent average wage increase each year over a five-year period, while the union has pushed for annual raises of 4.5 per cent.

The union also wants to put greater limits on contract work, more anti-racism training and provisions for remote work on the table.

What services will be impacted if a strike happens? PSAC national president says delays on passport, immigration and EI applications. “There will certainly be a slowdown there.” Delay imports and exports as well.

— Annie Bergeron-Oliver (@AnnieClaireBO) April 17, 2023

If the 155,000 PSAC members do strike Wednesday, Aylward says the government should let them strike and not force them back to work. Come to the table, he tells the government.

— Annie Bergeron-Oliver (@AnnieClaireBO) April 17, 2023

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2023