Why does it take years to reach a new collective agreement in the federal public service? PSAC’s new video looks at one of the biggest problems in the current system: outdated rules under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act (FPSLRA) that create barriers at the bargaining table and slow the path to a new agreement. 

The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board has informed PSAC that it will appoint mediators following the PA and EB bargaining teams declaring impasse last month. Mediation is now scheduled for April 28–30 for the PA group, with dates to be determined for the EB group. 

Our EB bargaining team last met with Treasury Board on January 21–22, with the employer refusing to engage on most of our proposals. With the government’s lack of overall mandate at the table and their continued disrespect towards EB members and the entire public service, the EB team has made the decision to declare impasse. 

Our EB bargaining team returned to the table with Treasury Board, December 3-4, and submitted a comprehensive monetary package that includes a general economic increase of 4.75% per year over a three-year agreement and EB-specific market adjustments. Our team also called for additional adjustments to allowances for all subgroups. 

As the government moves ahead with plans to cut tens of thousands of federal public service jobs, Treasury Board has tabled a proposal that would strip workers of the power to negotiate improvements to the workforce adjustment process. 

Bargaining teams for the PA, SV, TC and EB groups are heading back to the table this month for their first meetings with the employer — talks that will set the tone for the months ahead as we negotiate new contracts for more than 120,000 federal public service workers.