The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is launching nationwide strike votes for more than 120,000 federal public service workers after talks broke down over wages and other key issues. Strike votes for members in the Program and Administrative Services, Operational Services, Technical Services, and Education and Library Science bargaining groups will be conducted from February 22 to April 11, 2023. 

Recent public communications from Treasury Board have implied an imminent return to the bargaining table. While there have been some exploratory conversations with the employer and representatives of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) about logistics in the event of a possible return to the bargaining table, there is no confirmed agreement to do so. PSAC agrees that in the event of a return to the bargaining table, a third-party mediator would be advisable. 

PSAC members in the EB, PA, SV and TC groups are invited to attend national townhall meetings to get the latest updates about bargaining with Treasury Board as we work to secure a fair contract for 165,000 federal public service workers.

The federal government’s blanket hybrid work plan tramples on workers’ collective bargaining rights and forces a flawed one-size-fits-all approach on a diverse and evolving public service.  

Following reports of Treasury Board's plan to unilaterally change telework agreements, the FB bargaining team used their December 13-15 bargaining dates to remind the employer that modifying working conditions without union consent while in negotiations is prohibited under federal legislation.

The Public Interest Commission (PIC) hearing conducted by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board for the TC group was held on December 9. The bargaining team and employer both presented their positions and are now awaiting a decision from the PIC.