From CTV:
“What you need to know about the agreement that ended the
PSAC strike”
Canada's largest public sector union and the government have
reached a tentative agreement ending one of the largest strikes in the
country's history. The agreement between Treasury Board and four PSAC
bargaining groups representing 120,000 public servants puts an end to a strike
after nearly two weeks. Union members returning to work as of 9 a.m. Monday. “PSAC
members held the line together and secured a fair contract that keeps up with
the cost of living, increased protections around remote work, and creates
safer, more inclusive workplaces,” national president Chris Aylward said in a
news release Monday. Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said the agreements
came after weeks of "hard work, negotiation and compromise." “We are
deeply grateful for public servants who work hard across the country to serve
Canadians and look forward to welcoming them back," she said. "These
deals are fair, competitive, and reasonable, and bring stability to public
servants and Canadians.” The agreement is retroactive until June 2021 and runs
until 2024. Union members still need to vote on it. Here's what's in the
tentative agreement, according to both sides.
WHAT WAGE INCREASE DID THE SIDES AGREE ON? The union says the agreement includes
a 12.6 compounded wage increase over four years, which it says closes the pay
gap with inflation. Treasury Board puts the increase differently. The
government says the wage increase is 11.5 per cent over four years, but
includes a group-specific allowance of 0.5 per cent in the third year. The
agreement also includes a one-time lump sum payment of $2,500 for all
employees. For workers nearing retirement, that payment will contribute
to their average salary for their five years of service and increase pension
payments in retirement, the union says. The PSAC began negotiations
looking for a 13.5 per cent wage increase over three years. The government's
initial offer was nine per cent over the same time period.
WHAT ABOUT REMOTE WORK? The government says the two sides reached an agreement
on working from home that is outside the collective agreement. "The
Government of Canada continues to be committed to a modern, hybrid workplace
that provides employees, where applicable, with the flexibility to continue to
work up to 3 days from home a week. Outside of the collective agreements, we
reached a tentative settlement on telework to the satisfaction of both parties.
We agreed to undertake a review of the Directive on Telework, and to create
departmental panels to advise deputy heads regarding employee concerns."
PSAC says its members now have access to additional protection when subject
to arbitrary decisions about remote work. "We have also negotiated
language in a letter of agreement that requires managers to assess remote work
requests individually, not by group, and provide written responses that will allow
members and PSAC to hold the employer accountable to equitable and fair
decision-making on remote work." The sides have also agreed to
create joint panels to deal with employee concerns about remote work.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE AGREEMENT? PSAC says it also secured protections
against contracting out work in the federal public service. "PSAC
has negotiated language to ensure that in the event of layoffs, PSAC members
will not lose their job if they can perform the duties of a contractor already
working with the federal government," the union says. Anti-racism
training was also a key plank for PSAC negotiators. The union said Monday the
deal includes "an agreement to create a joint committee to review the
existing training courses related to employment equity, diversity, and
inclusion, and to ensure employees are fully aware of training opportunities
available to them during their work hours" The agreement also
includes paid leave for Indigenous employees to engage in traditional practices
such as hunting and fishing.
WHAT ABOUT CRA WORKERS? Although tentative agreements have been reached for
four bargaining units representing 120,000 employees in the core public
service, 35,000 CRA workers remain on strike. Those workers are
represented by the Union of Taxation Employees, an arm of PSAC. PSAC
said in a news release Monday that the PSAC/UTE bargaining team would enter
into a "blitz of negotiations" with CRA in an effort to reach an
agreement.
^ Hopefully this will be voted and agreed upon and the strike
will end. ^
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