Striking federal union wants PM involved in talks as government digs in
CBC
Leaders of the striking public service groups called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help reach a new deal with the federal government.
The government wants the union to accept the February recommendations of a third-party labour board.
Tens of thousands of federal public servants represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) remain on strike.
The strike, which started a week ago, affects a significant portion of the national capital's largest employer, disrupts about 30 departments and affects a range of services, including processing of income tax returns and passports.
On Wednesday, PSAC asked members in the Ottawa area to come to Parliament Hill for a rally from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As they did earlier in the week, strikers and supporters also temporarily slowed traffic on the Portage Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., Wednesday morning.
The union and government have been working on a new deal since 2021. The union says its members need help with the rising cost of living and the government has said it needs a deal that's fair for the union and taxpayers.
"Employees and Canadians need to know that the union continues to put demands on the table that are unaffordable," said the Treasury Board in a statement Wednesday afternoon shortly before the PSAC news conference.
It went on to say the union needs to "start bringing their demands in line" with the third-party Public Interest Commission (PIC) report recommendations, which included raises totalling nine per cent over three years.
PSAC national president Chris Aylward spoke Wednesday calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get involved in talks and help settle the dispute. He said the prime minister would be turning his back on workers if he didn't get involved.
WATCH | The Treasury Board president's Wednesday update:
In January, PSAC announced strike votes for the Treasury Board group of more than 120,000 members. Strike votes for this group happened from Feb. 22 until April 11, while strike votes for a CRA group of more than 35,000 workers were held from Jan. 31 until April 6.
Both sides agree members of each group should get a raise, but they differ on how much.
Issues on the table include who sets remote work rules, contracting and seniority's role during layoffs, according to what they've shared publicly.
Carleton University professor Rob Shepherd, who works in the school of public policy and administration, told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning Wednesday contracting out work is a regular, legitimate federal union concern.
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