The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the federal government have reached a tentative agreement for more than 120,000 workers, which includes new protections around remote work and wage increases.
The tentative agreement, which ends a two-week strike, includes negotiated language that requires managers to assess remote work requests individually — not by group — and provide written responses that will allow members and the PSAC to hold the employer accountable to equitable and fair decision-making on remote work.
The agreement also includes the creation of joint union-employer departmental panels to address issues related to the employer’s application of the remote work directive in the workplace.
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In addition, the PSAC has negotiated wage increases totalling 12.6 per cent across the life of the agreement, from 2021-2024. It also secured an additional fourth year in the agreement that protects workers from inflation, as well as a pensionable $2,500 one-time pensionable lump-sum payment that represents an additional 3.7 per cent of salary for the average PSAC member in Treasury Board bargaining units.
The agreement will also 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.
“We also know a diverse workforce with strong Indigenous representation means a better public service for all,” noted a press release from the PSAC. “With the new addition of paid leave for Indigenous employees to engage in traditional Indigenous practices, including hunting, fishing and harvesting, the government will be better able to attract and retain more Indigenous workers and recognize their lived experiences.”
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In another press release, the government said it 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.
“We are pleased to have reached tentative agreements with the Public Service Alliance of Canada for the core public administration after many weeks of hard work, negotiation and compromise,” said Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board, in the release. “The best deals are reached at the bargaining table — we respect the right to negotiate and appreciate Canadians’ patience and understanding over the past two weeks.
“We are deeply grateful for public servants who work hard across the country to serve Canadians and look forward to welcoming them back. These deals are fair, competitive and reasonable and bring stability to public servants and Canadians.”
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