[Canada] More than 50% support federal workers’ right to work from home

More than half of Canadians support federal civil servants' right to work from home, according to a new survey, Go Top News reports.

The survey was conducted by the polling firm Angus Reid Institute amid one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history. It aimed to measure the public's attitude towards the more than 100,000 striking federal workers who are members of the Canadian Civil Service Association.

Wages and remote work are reportedly at the centre of the labour dispute between the government and the union. The union is seeking a 13.5 per cent pay rise over three years; the government is offering 9 per cent.

The union also demands that teleworking language be included in future collective agreements so that unionised workers have a way to address being forcibly returned to the office. The government has mandated that all federal public employees attend their office at least two or three times a week.

Around 55 per cent of respondents reportedly said they supported workers' right to work from home, while 36 per cent of Canadians opposed it. Ten per cent had no opinion about the subject. 

In a previous Angus Reid survey on returning to the office, 51 per cent of Canadians prefered to work from home most of the time. It is their employers' decision to get them back into the office. 

According to government data, nearly 50 per cent of public services work in front-line duties that cannot be carried out from home. 20,000 of these workers are currently on strike. For the vast majority of striking workers, the issue of being able to determine how and where to work is crucial. It has become a key point of contention in the negotiations.

The Angus Reid survey was conducted online from April 20 to April 21. 1,276 Canadians participated.

Labour experts and political observers have reportedly speculated that public sympathy for striking workers could play a role in the outcome of the negotiations and, crucially, determine whether the Liberals will initiate back to work legislation.

The striking workers are part of the five major PSAC bargaining units. The majority are administrative staff in various federal departments and agencies, maintenance workers in government buildings, dockers and firefighters. Approximately 35,000 Canadian Revenue Service employees are also on strike. 

The majority of these workers earn less than $70,000 a year, according to data provided by PSAC to The Globe and Mail. Twenty-four per cent reportedly earn between $40,000 and $60,000, while 20 per cent earn more than $80,000.

A recent analysis by the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives showed that - when adjusted for inflation - wage increases for all federal workers since 2007 have been 7.8 per cent below the overall national average.

On April 21, three days after the strike, PSAC reportedly said that both sides had made some progress in negotiations, however,l "core issues" still remained unresolved and negotiations would continue through the weekend.

Source: Go Top News

More than half of Canadians support federal civil servants' right to work from home, according to a new survey, Go Top News reports.

The survey was conducted by the polling firm Angus Reid Institute amid one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history. It aimed to measure the public's attitude towards the more than 100,000 striking federal workers who are members of the Canadian Civil Service Association.

Wages and remote work are reportedly at the centre of the labour dispute between the government and the union. The union is seeking a 13.5 per cent pay rise over three years; the government is offering 9 per cent.

The union also demands that teleworking language be included in future collective agreements so that unionised workers have a way to address being forcibly returned to the office. The government has mandated that all federal public employees attend their office at least two or three times a week.

Around 55 per cent of respondents reportedly said they supported workers' right to work from home, while 36 per cent of Canadians opposed it. Ten per cent had no opinion about the subject. 

In a previous Angus Reid survey on returning to the office, 51 per cent of Canadians prefered to work from home most of the time. It is their employers' decision to get them back into the office. 

According to government data, nearly 50 per cent of public services work in front-line duties that cannot be carried out from home. 20,000 of these workers are currently on strike. For the vast majority of striking workers, the issue of being able to determine how and where to work is crucial. It has become a key point of contention in the negotiations.

The Angus Reid survey was conducted online from April 20 to April 21. 1,276 Canadians participated.

Labour experts and political observers have reportedly speculated that public sympathy for striking workers could play a role in the outcome of the negotiations and, crucially, determine whether the Liberals will initiate back to work legislation.

The striking workers are part of the five major PSAC bargaining units. The majority are administrative staff in various federal departments and agencies, maintenance workers in government buildings, dockers and firefighters. Approximately 35,000 Canadian Revenue Service employees are also on strike. 

The majority of these workers earn less than $70,000 a year, according to data provided by PSAC to The Globe and Mail. Twenty-four per cent reportedly earn between $40,000 and $60,000, while 20 per cent earn more than $80,000.

A recent analysis by the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives showed that - when adjusted for inflation - wage increases for all federal workers since 2007 have been 7.8 per cent below the overall national average.

On April 21, three days after the strike, PSAC reportedly said that both sides had made some progress in negotiations, however,l "core issues" still remained unresolved and negotiations would continue through the weekend.

Source: Go Top News