Our PSAC-UNDE bargaining teams are bringing a potential settlement to a vote for NPF members to resolve outstanding bargaining issues with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services. The settlement, if ratified by members, would bring an end to the strike for our more than 500 members in Bagotville, Kingston, Montreal–St-Jean, Ottawa, Petawawa, and Valcartier that began January 15. 

Ratification votes 

Who is eligible to vote?

Only PSAC members in good standing are eligible to vote in the ratification process. 
 
If you are not currently a union member — also known as a RAND because you’ve never signed a union card — please sign an electronic membership card or speak to your PSAC regional representative to ensure you are eligible to vote. If you are no longer a member in good standing, please request that your status as a PSAC member in good standing be reinstated or maintained. 

Will there be an opportunity to ask questions after the mandatory information session?

Yes. An optional Q&A session will be available for members following the information session.

What if I require an accommodation?

If you require an accommodation to participate fully in the information sessions (such as ASL interpretation), please contact your PSAC regional office as soon as possible. 

Are online information sessions available?

No, the voting will only be held in person. The vote schedule is as follows: 

• Bagotville: Thursday, April 18, 2 p.m. ET, La Saguenéenne – Hôtel et Centre de Congrès, 250 rue des Saguenéens – Chicoutimi (Rivière Valin B Room) 
   
• Kingston: Wednesday, April 17, 9 a.m. ET, PSAC Kingston Regional Office, 863 Princess Street, Kingston (Suite 201) 
   
• Montreal–St-Jean: Wednesday, April 17, 6 p.m. ET, Hôtel Alt Quartier DIX30, 6500 boulevard de Rome, Brossard (Indigo Room) 
   
• Ottawa: Wednesday, April 17, 10 a.m. ET, Holiday Inn Ottawa East, 1199 Joseph Cyr Street, Ottawa (Frobisher/Hudson Room) 
   
• Petawawa: Thursday, April 18, 9:30 a.m. ET, Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre, 900 Pembroke Street East, Pembroke (Settlers 2 Room) 
   
• Valcartier: Thursday, April 18, 9 a.m. ET, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, 5000 boul. des Gradins, Québec (Pichette-Noel Room) 

Settlement details 

What is the wage increase?

The settlement provides average increases of 4.6% per year totaling 13.75% — compounded to 14.5% — over the duration of the agreement, which would expire in 2025.

See the full details of the settlement in the ratification kit. 

When will the new collective agreement be implemented? 

Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services has a maximum of 60 days from the date of ratification to provide retro pay for the time elapsed since the expiry of the old contracts. 
 
Unless otherwise stipulated, all non-monetary terms of the collective agreement will come into effect immediately after ratification. 

Who will get retroactive pay for the negotiated economic increases? 

The employer will pay retroactive wages for all current employees and former employees who ceased working for the employer after expiry of the expired collective agreements due to retirement, death, no fault termination, or the posting of a military family member to another military facility. 

Will retroactive pay be taxable? 

Yes, retroactive pay is subject to taxes. 

If I retired recently or left the bargaining unit, will I get retroactive pay? 

Former employees who ceased working for the employer after expiry of the expired collective agreements due to retirement, death, no fault termination, or the posting of a military family member to another military facility will be entitled to retroactive pay. 

How does the memorandum of agreement work?

PSAC secured a memorandum of agreement in which the employer commits to consult with the union on the implementation of a single national job classification for all jobs, with an objective of negotiating revised rates of pay in future collective agreements so members across the country can earn equal pay for equal work.  
 
This moves us one step closer to resolving the long-standing problem of unfair wages where workers are earning anywhere from 20 to 60 per cent less than workers in the core federal public service for the same jobs. 

Next steps

Are we still on strike?

Members will remain on strike while ratification votes are held for members at bases in Ontario and Quebec. 

What happens if members accept this settlement? 

There are six different bargaining units negotiating concurrently with CFMWS. Each bargaining unit will be voting separately on the settlement offer, and their votes will be tallied by unit. 
 
If members vote in favour of the settlement, the strike will end immediately for members in the bargaining unit, and members will return to work within the next five days. Everyone will be given 48 hours’ notice from the employer before their first scheduled shift. Members will also be protected against discipline and reprisal from the employer as they return to work. 
 
Members will continue to receive strike pay until they are called back to work by the employer. Regular health benefits will be reinstated by the employer one business day after the unit ratifies the settlement. 

What happens if members reject this settlement? 

There are six different bargaining units negotiating concurrently with CFMWS. Each bargaining unit will be voting separately on the settlement offer, and their votes will be tallied by unit. 
 
If a bargaining unit does not ratify the settlement, the strike will continue for members in that specific bargaining unit. 

When will the results of the vote be released? 

Results will be released by the end of the week once all six ratification votes have taken place. 

How will this affect other NPF bargaining units in future negotiations? 

PSAC-UNDE represents members in four other NPF bargaining units who are also currently in negotiations. This deal will be tabled as is for all upcoming NPF negotiations for those bargaining units to consider.