Barry Ellsworth
04 May 2023•Update: 04 May 2023
TRENTON, Canada
The union told its 35,000 striking members to return to work Thursday after a tentative agreement was reached with the Canadian federal government.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada-Union of Taxation Employees (PSAC-UTE) “has secured a fair contract for members that exceeds the employer’s original offer before the launch of strike action,” the union said in a press release Thursday.
More than 155,000 federal employees went on strike on April 19, with 120,000 Treasury Board workers reaching a tentative agreement on May 1. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) workers, who are also members of PSAC but under a different contract, remained on strike until Thursday.
The PSAC-UTE release said the employees received a 12% increase over four years, retroactive to 2021. It is the same pay raise the 155,000 Treasury Board workers agreed to under a tentative contract with Ottawa.
Another provision includes a one-time CAN$2,500 (US$1,800) lump sum payment.
The Canada Revenue Agency, which checks and processes income tax forms filed by individuals and businesses, said in a release Thursday that under the agreement, workers will be able to do remote work some of the time. This was a key demand from the union as employees wanted to continue to work from home, which they did during the pandemic.
“The CRA continues to be committed to a modern, hybrid workplace that provides employees, where applicable, with the flexibility to continue to work up to three days from home a week,” the CRA statement said, adding that both sides also agreed to review virtual work arrangements.
The union will now present the details of the tentative agreement to its members and a ratification vote will take place in the coming weeks.
