After a year-and-a-half of negotiations and two weeks on the picket line, federal workers at the Canada Revenue Agency will return to work on Thursday.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada Union of Taxation Employees and the federal government have a tentative four-year agreement. The deal includes wage increases totalling 12.6 per cent over the life of the contract and a pensionable one-time lump sum payment of $2,500.
Like their colleagues at the Treasury Board, the union said the deal protects members from arbitrary decisions regarding remote work. Managers will assess those requests individually and provide a written response so PSAC can hold the employer accountable. A joint committee will also review and update the telework policy.
Workers can request to start their shift as early as 6 a.m. to improve work-life balance.
The agreement also includes improved shift premiums, anti-racism and discrimination training, and protections against the contracting out of union work.
A statement from the union read, "The PSAC-UTE bargaining team unanimously recommends this agreement."
"This agreement addresses all key priorities put forward by the PSAC-UTE," said a statement from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Workers still need to vote on the agreement.
The union plans to present details to its membership and organize ratification votes over the coming weeks.
The CRA says it already took measures to resume normal operations and fully restore services impacted by the strike.
