Just hours after 155,000 federal public servants walked off the job, the Canada Revenue Agency called on the Public Service Alliance of Canada to "work with us."
The workers at the Canada Revenue Agency and the Treasury Board hit the picket lines after the two sides failed to reach an agreement by PSAC-UTE’s 9 p.m. deadline Tuesday evening.
“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.”
However, the CRA said it made "every reasonable effort to avoid a labour disruption -- despite some ongoing movement at the bargaining table on key issues by both sides," the union chose to call a general strike.
"During our mediated negotiations on April 17 and 18, the CRA presented a fair, competitive offer to the PSAC-UTE. This includes a 9 per cent wage increase over three years that mirrors the recommendations of the third-party Public Interest Commission with the PSAC and Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada," read a statement on Thursday morning from the CRA. "The PSAC-UTE countered with a proposal of 22.5 per cent over the course of three years, which includes a market adjustment of 2 per cent."
“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.”
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 the 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 administrative staff on strike.
Again on Thursday, the CRA said there are no plans to extend the tax filing deadlines, although it will continue to accept all tax returns.
"Those that are filed digitally, which represent the vast majority of T1 and T2 returns, will largely be processed automatically by our systems without delay," said the agency.
It also said it would prioritize benefit payments, and the Canada Child Benefit will be issued as scheduled.
https://twitter.com/psac_afpc/status/1648496714423336960
-With files from Miranda Chant
