Members of Canada’s largest public sector union are set to hit the picket lines Wednesday.
The news of the strike comes after the union and the federal government failed to reach an agreement by the union’s 9 p.m. deadline Tuesday evening.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said 155,000 employees, including 35,000 workers from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), will walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. April 19.
“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers,” said PSAC National President Chris Aylward. “Now more than ever, workers need fair wages, good working conditions and inclusive workplaces. And it’s clear the only way we’ll achieve that is by taking strike action to show the government that workers can’t wait.”
Picket lines will be set up across more than 250 locations across the country on Wednesday.
PSAC members have been without a contract since June 2021. Last week, the PSAC announced that more than 120,000 public servants in the Treasury Board voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of a strike, as did 35,000 unionized workers at the CRA.
A significant point of contention for members appears to be pay, with the union calling for raises to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living.
According to the union, the strike will be one of the largest in nation’s history. Slowdowns and total shutdowns of services across the country are likely, including within the tax department delaying the processing of income tax and benefit returns.
Other areas to be impacted include passport services from Employment and Social Development Canada, client assistance with employment insurance, social insurance and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and old age security through Service Canada.
Additionally, application processing by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will be affected and border slowdowns are likely with admin staff on strike.
“As we begin this historic strike, PSAC bargaining teams will remain at the table night and day as they have been for weeks,” said Aylward. “We’re ready to reach a fair deal as soon as the government is ready to come to the table with a fair offer.”
ON STRIKE
Treasury Board and CRA members are on strike effective tomorrow at 12:01 AM ET April 19.
Please make plans to attend your closest picket line as early as you can: https://t.co/Th5Oeo1dVC pic.twitter.com/rVQbCG7kT4
— PSAC-AFPC (@psac_afpc) April 19, 2023
-With files from Miranda Chant
