Expert: Federal public servants union inks tentative deal with feds

The country's largest federal public-sector union reached a tentative contract agreement with the government, covering more than 120,000 public servants across the country and bringing them back to work after a 12-day strike. The tentative deals come after a push from the union for wage increases that compensate for inflation, along with a host of other demands, including language on remote-work arrangements. However, some 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees were still on strike on the day of the federal tax filing deadline, as negotiations over a separate collective agreement continue. (CTV News)

Here is an expert from McGill University who can comment on this topic.  

Barry Eidlin, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology 

“The announced wage increases of 12.6 per cent over four years fall short of inflation and are considerably less than the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) initial proposal of 13.6 per cent over three years. Nevertheless, it appears that the PSAC has made important progress on job security and shift premiums, limits on subcontracting, and accommodations for Indigenous workers. While they have won some limited ability to negotiate over remote work, these policies remain outside the collective bargaining agreement with limited enforcement capacity. Still, this could set the stage for more expanded bargaining over remote work in the future. It is also unclear where this tentative agreement leaves the 35,000 CRA workers also on strike, who now risk being more isolated and in a weaker bargaining position.”

Barry Eidlin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology. As a comparative historical sociologist, his research explores the changing relationship between social mobilization, political processes, and ideology in advanced capitalist democracies. 

barry.eidlin [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)