Federal union launches strike votes for 120,000 public service workers

The Public Service Alliance of Canada announced strike votes Friday for 120,000 federal public servants, with ballots running from Nov. 16 to Jan. 22 across three bargaining groups: Program and Administrative Services, Technical Services, and Education and Library Science.

The union declared an impasse in negotiations with Treasury Board in February for the PA group, and in the last winter and spring for multiple other groups. Contract talks have dragged on for one year and a half without resolution.

PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa said the union had no choice but to pursue strike action. "We want to negotiate a fair deal, but by pushing pay cuts and refusing to discuss any of our key issues, Treasury Board has given us no choice but to take strike votes," DeSousa said in a statement. "Federal public service workers are the backbone of this country: protecting communities, supporting veterans, responding when disaster strikes, and delivering the benefits people rely on every day. We will not let this government find its budget savings on the backs of workers."

The wage gap between the two sides remains wide. PSAC is demanding a significant increase per year for three years. Treasury Board has countered with a two per cent raise in 2025, followed by smaller raises in subsequent years — averaging less than one per cent annually.

Treasury Board responded Friday with disappointment, saying the union chose to proceed with strike votes while groups are still working through mediation. The board stated recent mediation sessions led to progress on certain points and that it has engaged with the union on all proposals over the past year and a half.