Members representing the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) joined other public employee unions to represent more than 160,000 workers who have reached an impasse in negotiations with their employer. Talks between the PSAC and the Treasury Board Secretariat have concluded. Chris Aylward, PSAC’s National President, says wages must be fair and keep pace with rising inflation. “Right now our main issue, frankly, is wages,” he said. “With the offer they have on the table of 1.75 per cent a year, when inflation is running at 8 per cent, this is nothing short of an insult.” Workers marched down Sparks Street to Treasury headquarters on Elgin Street Thursday. There they posted an open letter on their door outlining their demands. PSAC is demanding a 4.5 percent annual wage increase to protect workers from the rising cost of living. says Aylward. “Federal public sector workers have carried this country for two years through this pandemic by providing Canadians with essential services they rely on every day, getting benefits through the door in record time,” he said. “All we ask from this government is a little respect.” The two sides are headed to mediation from September 12 to 14 and from September 20 to 23. Aylward says that if there is no progress in these talks, workers are prepared to go on strike. “If they don’t start showing us respect at the bargaining table, we will have no choice but to withdraw our services and take our members out on strike.” In a statement to CTV News, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said PSAC has withdrawn from the talks. “The employer respects the right of employees to lawfully protest, but we are disappointed that the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has walked away from the bargaining table for several of its bargaining units at a stage in negotiations where we had both just submitted initial financial offer,” the statement said. “This should have been the beginning of wage negotiations, not the end.” The statement continued, “Before PSAC declared an impasse, its representatives presented us with a list of more than 500 demands for the bargaining table. PSAC has asked for average increases, including pay and other provisions, of up to 14% a year over three years across all its bargaining teams. “Collective bargaining produces the best results when both parties are committed to the negotiation. This is why the government remains ready to continue negotiations in good faith and hopes that PSAC will return to the table. We want to make deals that are fair for workers and reasonable for Canadians.” The Taxpayers Union, which represents 35,000 employees at the Canada Revenue Agency, joined the march Thursday. Marc Brière is the leader of the union and said they have declared an impasse in contract negotiations with the federal government. “The government doesn’t even want to give us a Canada Revenue Agency salary offer – I think that’s ridiculous and insulting. Especially considering all the work our CRA members have done helping Canadians with emergency benefits – it’s completely insulting.” “Inflation is over seven percent and they are not even offering anything after eight months of negotiations. … People are being left behind and it doesn’t seem like the government is paying enough attention.”
