PSAC members picketed outside Red Deer's Service Canada offices on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, the first day of nationwide job action affecting approximately 155,000 workers. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

no deal for 2 years

PSAC members on Red Deer picket line: “This isn’t a fight for more than we deserve”

Apr 19, 2023 | 1:04 PM

Workers are picketing in Red Deer today, as are about 155,000 others across Canada who are employees under the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

They have been without a contract for two years.

In Red Deer, about 60 people were picketing at 9 a.m. outside the downtown Service Canada office, where folks normally go for things such as passport services.

Kirsten Strachey with the Union of Taxation Employees, Local 30024 (Calgary/Red Deer), and Strike Captain, assured there are no essential workers on the line.

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“This isn’t a fight for more than we deserve. This is about putting everything on the line for enough; enough to support our families, enough to pay the rent and cover our bills. We’ve been without a contract for two years; two years too long for all of us workers,” said Strachey.

“It’s time for the government to provide the working conditions we deserve and strengthen the federal public service for Canada. We all deserve to be treated fairly, no matter where we work. We like our jobs, we like serving Canadians, and we’d like to be there to do that for you.”

Organizations with workers affected by the strike include the much talked about Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), as well as Agriculture and Agri-foods Canada, Canadian Heritage, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Transportation Agency, and several more.

Find a full list of organizations affected here.

Specifically in the tax realm, an estimated 39,000 CRA employees are striking.

The agency explains the strike means certain services will be delayed or unavailable, including processing of some income tax and benefit returns. Those filed by paper, in particular, could be disrupted.

The CRA’s business inquiries line is closed, and the agency is prioritizing calls related to benefits payments. It’s warning callers that longer wait times are to be expected.

“While there are no plans to extend tax filing deadlines, the CRA will continue to accept all tax returns. Those that are filed digitally, which represent the vast majority of T1 and T2 returns, will largely be processed automatically by our systems without delay,” the CRA says.

According to The Canadian Press (CP), union officials are still hopeful a tentative agreement can be reached.

CP notes wage increases have been top of mind at the table, with PSAC initially pushing for annual raises of 4.5 per cent over the next three years, for a total of 13.5 per cent. The union says the increases are necessary to keep pace with inflation and the cost of living. The Treasury Board says it offered the union a 9.0 per cent raise over three years on Sunday, on the recommendation of the third-party Public Interest Commission.

The CRA notes PSAC most recently countered with a 22.5 per cent increase over three years — or 7.5 per cent per year.

Initial negotiations began in June 2021, with the union seeking a new deal. The union declared an impasse in May 2022 and both parties filed labour complaints

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with reporters briefly Wednesday about the job action.

“Obviously, Canadians have a right and deserve to get the services they need from the federal government,” he remarked. “That’s why we need management and labour to get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible and continue to make progress.”

Asked if they are in fact at the table, and his thoughts are on forcing workers back to their jobs, the PM said, “They have been [at the table], they have not been, and right now they need to get back [to the table].”

“We are not negotiating in public, the negotiations happen at the table,” said Trudeau. “We understand it’s really important to respect labour rights; it’s the first day. Let’s make sure while this is going on, we are at the negotiating table.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted last night that he stands in solidarity with workers on strike, adding that the Liberal government has, “failed workers, again.”

“These workers had our backs during the pandemic – making sure that Canadians had the support they needed to get through a challenging time. Now, New Democrats will have theirs.”

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is yet to comment as of mid-Wednesday.

PSAC members voted throughout the late winter and early spring, overwhelmingly in favour of striking.

On April 12, Chris Aylward, PSAC national president, said members don’t take this decision lightly.

“They know that a strike will be difficult for them and for the Canadians who depend on the services they provide,” said Aylward. “But they’re exercising their bargaining power because they just can’t wait any longer. Their bills can’t wait. Their families can’t wait. None of us can.”

Non-wage benefits PSAC is asking for, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) notes, include:

• A special shift premium whenever members work past 4 p.m.;
• Taxpayer-funded contributions to the PSAC’s Social Justice Fund, which engages in “advocacy for progressive public policy,” according to the union’s website;
• An education fund for laid-off members of up to $17,000;
• Increased paid leave for family related responsibilities from 37.5 hours to 75 hours annually; and,
• Accrual of four weeks of automatic vacation leave after four years of service, rather than after seven years of service.

The CTF calls the strike “out of touch.”

Public Interest Alberta, meantime, says it stands with PSAC.

(with files from The Canadian Press)