2023_Canadian_federal_worker_strike

2023 Canadian federal worker strike

2023 Canadian federal worker strike

Strike by federal workers in Canada in 2023

The 2023 Canadian federal worker strike was a strike by Canadian federal workers who are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). The strike took place between April 19 and May 3, 2023, although the Treasury Board bargaining units ended their strike on May 1.

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

The strike was the culmination of more than a year of collective bargaining following the expiry of the previous collective agreement in 2021, with it ultimately resulting from disagreements between PSAC and the Government of Canada (represented in bargaining by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat) on issues related to remote work, enhanced work amenities and wage increases to compensate for inflation. It affected several federal programs, including passport renewals and immigration processing. The strike was also expected to have an impact on tax season, such as processing delays, with the deadline for taxes having remained unchanged at April 30, 2023 (May 1, 2023, since April 30 was a Sunday).[2][3]

Early on May 1, PSAC announced that a tentative agreement had been reached for the PA, SV, TC, and EB bargaining units and that workers in these units were required to return to work at 9 a.m. ET on May 1, or their next scheduled shift after that date.[4] Workers from the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) bargaining unit continued to strike until a tentative agreement was announced on May 3,[5] ending the strike altogether, at which point they were required to return to work by May 4 at 11:30 a.m. ET at the latest.[6][7]

Background

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is the largest public sector union in Canada, representing 159,000 public service workers,[1][8] of which 120,000 fall under the Treasury Board of Canada and 39,000 are Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees under the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) component of PSAC.[9][10][11]

Prior work contracts for PSAC workers had expired in 2021.[12] Since June 2021,[13] PSAC had been bargaining with the Government of Canada to establish a new contract,[14] largely as an attempt to increase worker pay to keep up with a surge of inflation, which had precipitated an increase in the cost of living.[15][16] CRA workers sought a 30% increase in wages over the next three years, while others were asking for a 13.5% increase,[14] amounting to a 4.5% annual increase.[17] The Government of Canada had offered a 9% increase instead, but PSAC would not accept it.[15] In addition, PSAC repeatedly called for an agreement regarding remote work, in spite of a December 2022 mandate by the Treasury Board that requires workers to work from government offices at least 40–60% of the time (two to three days per week in most cases).[15][18] The union had also pushed for greater anti-racism training and increased limits on contract work.[19]

In May 2022, the union went to a labour board, leading to the release of a non-binding report in January 2023.[13] The report recommended increased allowances for employees, and enhancements of family leave, shift premiums, and flexibilities. A press release disclosed that the government would enter into meditation with PSAC in April.[20]

Both the Government of Canada and the union agreed that workers needed an increase in wages. However, the size of the wage increase was subject to negotiation. Despite attempts to reach a consensus, discussions between the parties were slow to progress. As a result, on February 22, 2023, a strike vote of the membership was held by the Treasury Board component of PSAC.[13] The UTE component of PSAC held a strike vote on January 31.[13] The Treasury Board bargaining units entered a legal strike position on April 12,[16] followed by the UTE bargaining unit on April 14.[21]

Strike

PSAC strikers outside a CRA office in Surrey, British Columbia

On April 7, the CRA bargaining group voted to enter a legal strike position.[21] On April 12, the national president of PSAC, Chris Aylward, announced that the Treasury Board bargaining unit had voted overwhelmingly in favour of entering into a legal strike position, thus granting the group a 60-day window to initiate a labour strike.[16] On April 19 at 12:01 a.m. ET, the strike began.[22] Approximately 100,000 of the 159,000 PSAC members left their jobs in order to picket at hundreds of locations across the country.[23] However, approximately 30,000–46,000 jobs (including approximately 8,600 Canada Border Services Agency workers who constitute PSAC's FB bargaining unit[24]) were deemed essential (i.e., they were considered necessary to the safety or security of the public or a segment of the public), meaning these workers could not participate in a strike and needed to continue to work, nor could strikers impede essential workers' access to their workplaces.[25]

National Capital Region

In the National Capital Region, striking workers had been demonstrating at 13 different picket locations, including in front of the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council, Parliament Hill,[23] the Treasury Board office, the Tourism Minister's office, the Department of National Defence office, the Canada Revenue Agency office,[26] Tunney's Pasture,[27] Canada Post headquarters, the Department of Finance, as well as the offices of MPs Greg Fergus, Mona Fortier, Marie-France Lalonde, and Steven MacKinnon.[28]

Nationwide

Workers striked at various locations throughout Canada, including passport offices in Ontario, the Parole Office in Edmonton, the Natural Resources Canada office in Vancouver, the Canada Pension Plan office in Victoria, military bases in Quebec, as well as local offices in Winnipeg, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.[26]

Negotiations

On April 24, Mona Fortier wrote an open letter to public servants and Canadians,[29] in which she identified four main areas of disagreement that remained between the government and PSAC: wages, teleworking, outsourcing contracts, and seniority rules in the event of a layoff.[30] PSAC responded to this letter by reiterating their desire to reach a "fair deal".[31] On April 26, Fortier released a statement,[32] in which she expressed frustration with the offers tabled by PSAC negotiators.[33] On April 28, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat presented a "final updated comprehensive offer that addresses all remaining PSAC demands",[34] without releasing details of the offer to the public. The same day, PSAC confirmed that it received the offer, but expected negotiations to continue into the weekend.[35] In the early hours of May 1, at around 1:20 a.m. ET, PSAC confirmed that they had reached a tentative agreement for the PA, SV, TC, and EB bargaining units at the Treasury Board, and that these groups would be required to return to work at 9 a.m. ET on May 1, or their next scheduled shift after that date.[4]

Impacts

Impacts on federal programs, services, and operations

In a press conference on April 19, 2023, ministers Mona Fortier (President of the Treasury Board), Karina Gould (families, children and social development), Diane Lebouthillier (national revenue), and Sean Fraser (immigration, refugees and citizenship) outlined impacts of the strike on certain federal programs and operations.[36] Among these impacts were delays in processing income tax returns and immigration applications, as well as providing passports only in humanitarian or emergency situations.[36]

While essential services continued to be delivered during the labour disruption, Canadians could expect others to be delayed or interrupted.[1] The following table lists these disruptions:

More information Department/Agency, Impact(s) ...

Economic impacts

The Canadian government had claimed that the strike would not affect the normal flow of people and goods in and out of the country. However, the previous federal strike of this magnitude (in 1991) resulted in delays of some international commodity shipments and disruptions of flights and international travel.[26]

It was speculated by Charles St-Arnaud, chief economist at Alberta Central, that the magnitude of the wage increase resulting from negotiations could prompt other unions to follow suit, which could be inflationary,[60] because if more people ask for higher wages, this can sustain the inflationary cycle by increasing consumers' purchasing power, which in turn stimulates demand for more goods and services and therefore puts price pressures on costs.[60] Since the labour market is tight, private companies might have to match public salaries to keep prospects from going to work for the government.[60] However, regardless of the magnitude of the wage increase, the private sector have the capacity to absorb costs rather than raise their prices, and the Bank of Canada has the capacity to control a potential increase in demand (resulting from higher wages) by increasing interest rates, thus potentially limiting the ability of other unions to secure comparable gains.[60]

Modelling from the Conference Board of Canada suggested that household income in Ottawa–Gatineau would decrease by $44 million per week, representing 5% of total wages and salaries in the CMA, since strike pay was significantly below workers' regular salary.[61] As a result, a prolonged strike would impact consumer-facing businesses such as restaurants and retailers the most, and the strike could have broader impacts on the Canadian economy due to the prolonged disruption to government services and programs.[61] As well, since workers on strike did not receive their regular pay (and were instead paid by the union), government spending was reduced (although likely by a less-than-proportinate amount to the foregone salaries[62]), which would negatively impact nominal GDP.[62]

Reactions

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in an April 19 press release authored by its president, Dan Kelly, expressed concern over the strike's impacts. It urged the Government of Canada to ensure that all departments maintain full service to small business, continue negotiation "to ensure a long-term and affordable collective bargaining agreement is signed", and prepare back-to-work legislation "should strike action last more than a few days".[63] Restaurants Canada also expressed concern over the impacts of the strike, particularly on the foodservice industry and on small and medium-sized businesses more broadly.[64]

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh expressed his support for federal workers ahead of the strike vote.[65] He also expressed that the NDP would not back any back-to-work legislation that may be put forth by the Liberals.[66] This sentiment was shared by the Canadian Labour Congress in an April 19 letter written by its president, Bea Bruske, to Mona Fortier, opposing the push by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for back-to-work legislation.[67]

Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie commented on the strike by criticizing prime minister Justin Trudeau's actions since he took office in 2015, attributing the strike to inflation, an increased public service budget, and increased spending on external consulting.[68]

References

  1. [1]
    "Labour disruptions". Government of Canada. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Due dates and payment dates – Personal income tax". Canada Revenue Agency. January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  3. [3]
    Yun, Tom (April 14, 2023). "CRA has 'no plans' to extend tax deadlines if workers strike". CTV News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  4. [4]
    "PSAC has reached a tentative agreement for the PA, SV, TC and EB bargaining units at Treasury Board". Public Service Alliance of Canada. May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. [5]
    "The Canada Revenue Agency reaches a tentative agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada – Union of Taxation Employees". Ottawa: Canada Revenue Agency. May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Tentative agreement reached with Canada Reveny Agency for 35,000 PSAC-UTE Members". Union of Taxation Employees. May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Tentative agreement reached with Canada Revenue Agency for 35,000 PSAC-UTE members". Public Service Alliance of Canada. May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  8. [8]
    Thanthong-Knight, Randy (April 19, 2023) [Originally published April 18, 2023]. "Canada Faces Massive Strike as Public Service Union Walks Out". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Day 2 of Canada's public service strike underway". Ottawa. CBC News. April 20, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. [10]
    Pringle, Josh (April 21, 2023). "Contract talks to continue over the weekend between PSAC and federal government". CTV News Ottawa. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  11. [11]
    "What you need to know about the PSAC strike". CBC News. April 22, 2023 [Originally published April 19, 2023]. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Federal government, union wrangle over fairness as public service strike begins". CBC News. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  13. [13]
    "When, where and why federal workers could strike". CBC News. April 16, 2023 [Originally published April 13, 2023]. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  14. [14]
    Scherer, Steve (April 17, 2023). "Canada's public workers to strike if no wage deal by Tuesday evening". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  15. [15]
    Yousif, Nadine (April 19, 2023). "Canada federal workers launch largest strike in decades". BBC News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. [16]
    "More federal public service union members vote for strike mandate". Ottawa. CBC News. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  17. [17]
    "Big public union strike in Canada could disrupt tax season". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  18. [18]
    Thomas, Jesse (April 21, 2023) [Originally published April 20, 2023]. "Not just wages, federal workers strike for ability to work from home". CTV Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  19. [19]
    "More than 155,000 Canadian federal workers strike to demand higher wages". France 24. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Labour relations board report recommends pay raise plan for 4 PSAC bargaining units". CBC News. February 17, 2023. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  21. [21]
    Raycraft, Richard (April 7, 2023). "CRA workers vote for strike mandate during tax season as mediation looms". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. [22]
    "Thousands of federal public servants across country begin strike". CBC News. April 19, 2023 [Originally published April 18, 2023]. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  23. [23]
    Shakil, Ismail; Scherer, Steve (April 19, 2023). "Canadian federal workers strike over wages, work-from-home guarantees". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  24. [24]
    "FAQ: Treasury Board bargaining". workerscantwait.ca. Public Service Alliance of Canada. April 23, 2023. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023. Only members of the PA, SV, TC, or EB bargaining groups, and CRA employees, are eligible to take strike action.
  25. [25]
    "UPDATED: Everything you need to know about the 2023 public service strike". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. April 25, 2023 [Originally published April 19, 2023]. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. [26]
    Parish Flannery, Nathaniel (April 21, 2023). "How Will The Public Service Worker Strike Affect Canada's Economy?". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  27. [27]
    "Here's where police say PSAC strike will cause traffic issues". CBC News. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  28. [28]
    "IN PHOTOS: Public service workers strike in Ottawa, April 19, 2023". Ottawa Citizen. April 20, 2023 [Originally published April 19, 2023]. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  29. [29]
    Fortier, Mona (April 24, 2023) [Originally published April 24, 2023]. "An open letter to public servants and Canadians". Ottawa: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  30. [30]
    Tran, Cindy (April 24, 2023). "Treasury Board sends open letter to Canadians on talks with union amid ongoing strike". Toronto Star. Ottawa. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  31. [31]
    "PSAC responds to Minister Fortier's open letter to members". Public Service Alliance of Canada. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  32. [32]
    Fortier, Mona (April 26, 2023). "President's update on negotiations with the Public Service Alliance of Canada". Ottawa: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  33. [33]
    Woods, Michael (April 26, 2023). "PSAC head accuses government of stalling as striking public servants rally on Parliament Hill". Ottawa. CTV News Ottawa. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  34. [34]
    "Update on negotiations with the Public Service Alliance of Canada" (Press release). Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  35. [35]
    Raymond, Ted (April 29, 2023). "Federal government claims offer to PSAC on Friday is 'final'". CTV News Ottawa. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  36. [36]
    Federal Ministers Provide Update on Impact of Public Service Strike. CPAC. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  37. [37]
    "Labour disruptions' impact at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada". Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  38. [38]
    "Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency". Government of Canada. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  39. [39]
    "Labour disruptions impact at the Canada Revenue Agency". Canada Revenue Agency. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  40. [40]
    "Canada School of Public Service". Canada School of Public Service. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  41. [41]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard". Canadian Coast Guard. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  42. [42]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Canadian Heritage". Canadian Heritage. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  43. [43]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Canadian Transportation Agency". Canadian Transportation Agency. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  44. [44]
    "Correctional Service Canada". Correctional Service of Canada. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  45. [45]
    Dyson, Dylan (April 20, 2023). "700 military members without heat or hot water at CFB Petawawa due to PSAC strike". CTV News Ottawa. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  46. [46]
    "Labour disruption impacts at Employment and Social Development Canada and Service Canada". Employment and Social Development Canada. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  47. [47]
    "Labour disruptions impact at FedDev Ontario". Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. April 26, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  48. [48]
    "Impacts of labour disruptions at Global Affairs Canada headquarters, regional offices in Canada and missions abroad". Global Affairs Canada. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  49. [49]
    "Labour disruptions impact at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  50. [50]
    "Impact of labour disruptions at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada". Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  51. [51]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Indigenous Services Canada". Indigenous Services Canada. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  52. [52]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  53. [53]
    "Prairies Economic Development Canada". Government of Canada. April 14, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  54. [54]
    "Impact of labour disruptions at Public Safety Canada". Public Safety Canada. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  55. [55]
    "Labour disruptions impact at the Public Service Commission". Government of Canada. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  56. [56]
    "Labour disruption impacts at Public Services and Procurement Canada". Public Services and Procurement Canada. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  57. [57]
    "Labour disruptions impact at the RCMP". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  58. [58]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Transport Canada". Transport Canada. April 4, 2023. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  59. [59]
    "Labour disruptions impact at Veterans Affairs Canada". Veterans Affairs Canada. April 20, 2023. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  60. [60]
    Bharti, Bianca (April 19, 2023). "Will the massive PSAC strike stoke inflation? Maybe, but it's complicated". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  61. [61]
    McIntyre, Jane; Antunes, Pedro; Forbes, Richard (April 20, 2023). "Crossing the Line: The Strike's Impact on Ottawa–Gatineau's Economy". Conference Board of Canada. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  62. [62]
    Holt, Derek (April 19, 2023). "Daily Points". Scotiabank. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  63. [63]
    Kelly, Dan (April 19, 2023). "CFIB statement on federal public service strikes" (Press release). Toronto. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  64. [64]
    "PSAC Strike Causes Major Concerns for Already Struggling Foodservice Sector" (Press release). Restaurants Canada. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  65. [65]
    'We support them 100 per cent': Singh on federal public service union members voting for strike mandate. CBC News. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  66. [66]
    Nardi, Christopher (April 19, 2023) [Originally published April 18, 2023]. "Singh vows NDP won't back any Liberal back-to-work laws during public sector strike". National Post. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  67. [67]
    Bruske, Bea (April 19, 2023). "2023-04-19-Ltr-Fortier-PSAC-BIL" (PDF). Canadian Labour Congress. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  68. [68]
    Conservative MP calls PSAC strike the 'complete result of the incompetence of the prime minister'. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2023_Canadian_federal_worker_strike, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.