Psac Strike: The Deal, Explained | About That

A Historic Moment

Last week, I found myself standing outside the Service Canada office, where Service Canada workers had been marching for over a week. But today, the scene is different. The strike is over, and a tentative agreement has been reached between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the federal government. This marks the end of the largest nationwide public sector strike in decades, involving over 120,000 workers at the Treasury Board.

The Details of the Agreement

Before we delve into the specifics of the agreement, it's important to note that the deal only applies to most, not all, of the workers who were on strike. There were two main bargaining units within the PSAC negotiations: the 120,000 Treasury Board employees and the 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees. While the Treasury Board employees have reached an agreement, the CRA employees are still on strike.

One of the major sticking points in the negotiations was wages. The government initially offered a nine percent raise over three years, while the union was pushing for a 13.5 percent raise over the same period. In the end, both sides compromised. The tentative agreement includes a 1.5 percent increase in 2021, a 4.75 percent increase in 2022, a three percent increase in 2023, and a 2.25 percent increase in 2024. When compounded, this amounts to a 12.6 percent raise over four years.

But that's not all. The union has also secured a one-time lump sum payment of $2,500 for each employee, which will factor into pension calculations upon retirement. Additionally, there are new protections around remote work. The union wanted remote work to be written into the contract, while the government wanted to maintain management control. The agreement states that remote work cases will now be assessed individually, giving employees more flexibility. Moreover, management will have to provide written explanations for their remote work decisions, ensuring fairness and consistency.

Loose Ends and What's Next

While the tentative agreement is a significant step forward, there are still loose ends. The Canada Revenue Agency employees, who were not included in this agreement, are still on strike. They were seeking a larger wage increase and are facing challenges in negotiations regarding remote work. Until these issues are resolved, further delays and backlogs can be expected when it comes to tax processing and returns.

Furthermore, it's important to note that the tentative agreement is not final. Union members still need to vote on whether to accept the deal. While the union recommends a "yes" vote, it's not uncommon for members to vote against the recommendation. Until the vote results are announced, the story is far from over.

In the coming days, the full text of the agreement will be released, and union members will have the opportunity to vote online. This will determine whether the tentative agreement becomes official. However, the impact of these negotiations extends beyond this particular strike. Other unions, both public and private, are closely observing these negotiations as a potential framework for their own agreements.

So, while the strike may be over for some, the story continues to unfold. The CRA employees still seek a resolution, and the implications of this agreement reverberate throughout the labor landscape. We will be keeping a close eye on the developments in the days to come.

Conclusion

The end of the strike and the tentative agreement reached between the PSAC and the federal government mark a historic moment. While there are still loose ends to be tied up, the agreement represents a compromise on wages and provides new protections for remote work. The full text of the agreement will be released soon, and union members will have the final say through their vote. As we await the results, we must not forget the impact this agreement may have on other unions and the ongoing challenges faced by the CRA employees. The story is far from over, and we will continue to follow its twists and turns.