Strike votes planned for more than 120,000 federal workers
Canada's largest public sector union is launching strike votes for more than 120,000 public service workers, after the union says talks with the federal government broke down over wages.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is launching nationwide strike votes for members in the Program and Administrative Services, Operational Services, Technical Services, and Education and Library Science
The collective agreements for all four groups expired in 2021. The votes will take place from Feb. 22 to April 19, the PSAC said in a news release.
"Wages are stalled, the cost of living is rising, and workers are being left behind," Chris Aylward, PSAC's national president, said in a news release. "Workers can’t wait. None of us can."
The announcement comes two weeks after PSAC and the Union of Taxation Employees announces that 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees would hold a strike vote from Jan. 31 to April 7.
Last May, PSAC declared an impasse in contract talks with the federal government, accusing the government at the time of an "insulting" wage offer of 2.06 per cent per year that doesn't keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living.
The union says the government "then refused to compromise during mediation in September and Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearings in December."
Once the recommendations from the PIC reports come in, PSAC says it will be in a legal strike position if members vote in favour of a strike mandate.
PSAC is asking for a 4.5 per cent annual raise over three years.
"Our members are frustrated they feel like they’re being left behind and falling further and further behind when you look at the cost of living and inflation," Aylward told CTV News. "We’re certainly going to go back to the table to try to get a deal, because that’s our overall goal: to get to a fair collective agreement. If that means taking strike action we’re certainly prepared to do that."
Last week, Treasury Board and the CRA launched a labour board complaint alleging that PSAC is not bargaining in good faith.
In a statement to CTV News, the Treasury Board Secretariat said the government is disappointed in the call for strike vote.
"In the process of collective bargaining, strikes are a last resort," the statement says, in part. "We believe there is lots of room to reach a fair and reasonable agreement for public servants. We call on PSAC to return to the table."
The government says it is committed to reaching agreements with all bargaining agents that are fair to employees and reasonable for taxpayers.
"We call on PSAC to come back to the table and negotiate an agreement in good faith. That’s where the best deals are reached."
--With files from CTV's Jackie Perez.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972910.1721665918!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Harris praises Biden's 'unmatched' legacy, looks to lock up the Democratic nomination
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their party that he would be unable to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
WATCH LIVE 'We failed,' says Secret Service director grilled on Trump assassination attempt
The director of the Secret Service says the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump was the agency's 'most significant operational failure' in decades.
Hollywood reacts to Joe Biden exiting the U.S. presidential race
Hollywood was quick to react to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Prince George is 11 -- see his birthday photo
Prince George has turned 11, and as per tradition his proud parents have released an official portrait to mark the occasion.
Two-thirds of Canadians polled say they 'desperately' need interest rates to go down
A new survey says the Bank of Canada's recent interest rate cut did little to change Canadians' negative perceptions about their personal finances.
Israel orders evacuation of part of Gaza humanitarian zone as war's toll passes 39,000 Palestinians
The Israeli military ordered the evacuation Monday of part of a crowded area in the Gaza Strip it had designated a humanitarian zone, saying it is planning an operation against Hamas militants there.
Wildfire forces evacuation of B.C.'s Barkerville gold rush heritage site
Visitors have been told to avoid B.C.'s historic Barkerville gold rush town, which is among several areas in the province's Cariboo region under evacuation orders due to the massive Antler Creek wildfire.
LeBron James to be Team USA's male flag bearer for Olympic Opening Ceremony
NBA legend LeBron James has been selected as Team USA’s male flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.