Union reaches tentative deal with CRA, ending 3-week strike
Deal for 35,000 federal service workers matches earlier deal with Treasury Board
Most Canada Revenue Agency workers are back at work Thursday after a tentative deal offering a 12.6 per cent wage increase over four years was reached between the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Union of Taxation Employees and the federal government. (Photo by Meral Jamal)
A tentative agreement was reached overnight Wednesday between the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Union of Taxation Employees and Canada Revenue Agency, ending three weeks of strike action.
The deal affects the more than 35,000 CRA unionized employees who went on strike on April 19.
Approximately 150 unionized federal public servants in Nunavut were affected by the PSAC strike by approximately 155,000 workers across Canada.
On Monday, a tentative deal was reached for 120,000 Treasury Board federal employees but that deal did not cover the unionized workers at Canada’s tax-collection and revenue agency, who remained on strike until a deal was announced early Thursday.
If ratified by the union, the new collective agreement, would take effect retroactively from October 2021 to October 2025.
It provides 12.6 per cent in compounded wage increases over the term of the four-year contract. There will also be a pensionable lump sum payment of $2,500, and it addresses PSAC-UTE members’ priorities on remote work, hours of work, contracting out and seniority, a spokesperson from PSAC said.
“PSAC-UTE members held the line together and secured a fair contract that keeps up with the cost of living, increased protections around remote work, and creates safer, more inclusive workplaces,” PSAC national president Chris Aylward said in a statement.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is Canada’s largest federal public service union, representing nearly 230,000 workers in Canada. The federal workers strike that began in April was one of the largest strikes in Canadian history.
A statement on the CRA website states any services that were impacted by the strike are being restored.
The statement noted the CRA and union reached “a tentative agreement, which is both fair to employees and reasonable for taxpayers.”
Always remember, these Federal Gov’t. employees have indexed pensions .
In 2023 their pensions increased by 6.3 % , for all retired Gov’t employees . The wage increases continue till death do them part .
Today about the only people that get indexed pensions are gov’t employees . Companies in the private sector can not afford them , they would lead to bankruptcy .
Government will never go bankrupt as long as they have the taxpayers to fund their ridiculous benefits .
And now let’s get those refunds rolling. We have waited long enough