Treasury Board started negotiations off on the wrong foot with Program and Administrative Services (PA) this round by putting problematic concessions on the table that would penalize employees who choose to work remotely.

The proposal would claw back meal-time allowances for employees who work three or more hours before or after their shift from a remote location, and diminish provisions for remote employees who are called back to work after completing their workday.

“Remote work is one of our members’ biggest priorities as we look towards more flexibility in our work after the pandemic,” said Marianne Hladun, Regional Executive Vice-President for the Prairies. “It’s incredibly frustrating Treasury Board seems intent on forcing our members to ‘pay’ for the opportunity to work remotely.”

According to the results of PSAC’s membership bargaining input survey, three out of four respondents had been mostly working remotely since the start of the pandemic. On top of that, more than 80 per cent of respondents were extremely or at least somewhat likely to want to continue working remotely.

PSAC’s proposal on remote work — submitted at the Common Issues table — aims to formalize the procedures outlined in Treasury Board’s Directive on Telework by including provisions for equipment and supplies and ensuring employees’ requests for remote work are not unreasonably denied.

More concessions for shift workers

During negotiations, Treasury Board also proposed to remove language that protects employees in the Information Services (IS) group from becoming shift workers. 

In the next few weeks, the PA bargaining team will reach out to IS members for their input on the shift work proposal and how it could impact their work-life balance.

A new proposal was also tabled by the employer calling for enhanced flexibility for hours of work provisions. While the employer is selling this as increased flexibility for workers, the union views this as an opportunity to impose potentially unreasonable and demanding work schedules on employees.

Share your frustration

We need your support to send a clear message to Treasury Board before the PA bargaining team returns to the table again February 16–18, 2022.

Show the government that PA members who have faithfully served Canadians throughout the pandemic, while trying to balance work and life from home, deserve the opportunity to continue working remotely — without being penalized for it. 

• Take action by using our PA video background for all your work meetings to support your bargaining team; 
• Talk to your supervisors about how important flexible work arrangements are for you and your family and mention the concessions Treasury Board is proposing; 
• Take the time to talk to your colleagues about the concessions on the table and how they’ll impact your team; 
• Use our PA social media frame when you talk about bargaining online. 

Common issues 

PSAC's Common Issues bargaining team also met with Treasury Board to discuss the key issues that impact members from every table – including wages, remote work, anti-racism, and the right to disconnect.

Check out the full common issues update for more information.

Stay in touch 

Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date via the member portal to receive all the latest updates as we negotiate your next contract.