![[Canada] More than 150,000 federal workers strike for higher pay](http://globalpayrollassociation.com/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-Ottawa-Ontario--October----465433633_1200x.jpg?v=1681955584)
On April 4 in Canada, around 155,000 federal workers - including 35,000 from the country’s tax agency - went on strike after midnight in what their union is describing as one of the largest strikes in the country’s history, France 24 reports.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said the strike was called following the failure of talks with the government to produce an agreement. Picket lines will be set up at more than 250 locations.
The strike involving the Canada Revenue Agency comes as tax returns are due.
Chris Aylward - the union’s national president - reportedly said the bargaining teams would stay at the table throughout the strike.
In a statement, the federal government’s Treasury Board said, “The Government has done everything it can to reach a deal and avoid disrupting the services that Canadians rely on. Despite some ongoing movement at the bargaining table on key issues by both sides, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has decided to proceed with a nationwide general strike.”
The primary issue is wage increases. The Treasury Board said it offered the union a 9 per cent raise over three years on the recommendation of the third-party Public Interest Commission.
However, the union has reportedly pushed for annual raises of 4.5 per cent over the next three years, arguing that the increases are necessary to keep pace with inflation. It has also kept issues such as greater limits on contract work, more anti-racism training and provisions for remote work on the bargaining table.
Earlier this month mediated contract negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the government began. They continued through the weekend in what the union describes as the government’s last chance to reach a deal.
Source: France 24
(Quotes via original reporting)
On April 4 in Canada, around 155,000 federal workers - including 35,000 from the country’s tax agency - went on strike after midnight in what their union is describing as one of the largest strikes in the country’s history, France 24 reports.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said the strike was called following the failure of talks with the government to produce an agreement. Picket lines will be set up at more than 250 locations.
The strike involving the Canada Revenue Agency comes as tax returns are due.
Chris Aylward - the union’s national president - reportedly said the bargaining teams would stay at the table throughout the strike.
In a statement, the federal government’s Treasury Board said, “The Government has done everything it can to reach a deal and avoid disrupting the services that Canadians rely on. Despite some ongoing movement at the bargaining table on key issues by both sides, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has decided to proceed with a nationwide general strike.”
The primary issue is wage increases. The Treasury Board said it offered the union a 9 per cent raise over three years on the recommendation of the third-party Public Interest Commission.
However, the union has reportedly pushed for annual raises of 4.5 per cent over the next three years, arguing that the increases are necessary to keep pace with inflation. It has also kept issues such as greater limits on contract work, more anti-racism training and provisions for remote work on the bargaining table.
Earlier this month mediated contract negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the government began. They continued through the weekend in what the union describes as the government’s last chance to reach a deal.
Source: France 24
(Quotes via original reporting)