What you need to know about the PSAC strike
About 30 federal departments, more than 155,000 workers affected
Tens of thousands of federal public servants represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) are on strike.
The strike, which started on April 19, 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.
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.
Both sides agree members should get a raise, but they differ on how much. At least publicly, the government has said it won't give a raise of more than nine per cent over three years and the union is upset at its message that it won't go higher.
Who sets remote work rules, contracting and seniority during layoffs have also been a focus from what they've shared publicly.
All pickets are in person, meaning even those working from home have to show up in person to receive strike pay. There may be disruptions to transit routes and traffic delays in certain areas.
WATCH | PM says he's engaged in bargaining:
The federal government has a list of departments and agencies affected and what it knows about changes in the strike. Below are some of them.
Service Canada
At a news briefing on April 19, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould said only services deemed essential will be provided.
That includes Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, employment insurance and granting social insurance numbers.
"Canadians should register for direct deposit to help get the payments they're entitled to quickly and easily," she said.
She warned that in-person or virtual assistance will only be given to people who need help accessing the essential services listed above.
Gould also said most Canadians won't be able to apply for, or renew, their passports.
"Passport services are essential and a priority only in an emergency or in humanitarian situations," she said.
"These very limited services will only be available at passport offices or Service Canada centres that are consolidated passport offices."
Emergency or humanitarian reasons include people at risk of financial hardship, people who need to travel for medical reasons or have had a death or illness in the family, those who rely on travel as a source of employment and those deemed urgent on compassionate grounds.
Gould said a long labour dispute will result in a passport backlog, but capacity had been built up over the past year.
"The longer we are in this position, the worse this problem becomes."
Service Canada has a fair number of other changes, including limiting what it can offer in person and affecting the temporary foreign worker process.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Sean Fraser said at the briefing that people can expect delays with processing applications
"We've been working night and day over the past year and a half as we came into the post-pandemic phase to reduce these backlogs," he said, adding the dispute could erase those gains.
The department's website warns that while some services are still available, most are affected by the strike.
People who need to extend their stay in Canada can still apply online, citizenship events will be rescheduled and delays should be expected when trying to contact the client support centre.
Some IRCC services are still available, including online and mail-in application processes, using online accounts and accessing some emergency services.
Services offered by non-governmental bodies are also still running, which includes health care through the federal interim health program, settlement services from partner organizations and visa application centres outside Canada.
Canada Revenue Agency
About 39,000 employees with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are on strike, and the agency warns of delays for income tax and benefit returns, especially those filed by mail.
It also said people should expect increased wait times at contact centres.
On its website, the government said it encourages people to file their taxes online and it warns that access to some buildings may be affected.
Minister of Revenue Diane Lebouthillier spoke at the April 19 news conference and, in French, said the CRA will continue to play its important role in government.
She said child benefits will continue to be paid and other benefits will be completed in order of priority.
The tax deadline will not change because of the strike, the minister confirmed.
She said any penalties incurred because of the strike and any delays may be redressed, but will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
"Those that are filed digitally, which represent the vast majority of T1 and T2 returns, will largely be processed automatically by our systems without delay," the agency said in an email statement.
Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs said disability benefits, income replacement benefits and additional compensation for pain and suffering will continue to be paid out.
People with questions or concerns about payments are asked to contact the department.
The department's assistance service is still operating 24/7, and psychological support is available through the department or by calling 1-800-268-7708.
You should expect delays for in-person appointments and longer wait times for calls to the national contact centre.
"Veterans Affairs Canada will have a significantly reduced ability to process new payments," the department's website said.
"All benefit requests already in the queue or received after a service disruption will be prioritized based on urgency or essential need."
Indigenous Services Canada
Indigenous Services Canada warns of delays in processing requests and increased wait times at contact centres and regional offices.
The department says delays should be expected in getting, renewing or replacing a status card and processing applications under Jordan's Principle or Inuit Child First Initiative.
The Hope for Wellness hotline, First Nations Child and Family Services, support to Indigenous businesses, emergency management and funding programs will be maintained.
Other services affected
There would be reduced capacity for fisheries enforcement, aquaculture and invasive species work under Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Some Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada support programs and services would be affected.
Delays with consular services should be expected for Global Affairs Canada.
WATCH | Some of the national picket targets:
Picket locations
Ottawa:
- James Michael Flaherty Building at 90 Elgin St.
- Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council at 80 Wellington St.
- The Tunney's Pasture government complex.
- MP and Treasury Board president Mona Fortier's office at 233 Montreal Rd.
- MP Marie-France Lalonde's office at at 255 Centrum Blvd.
- Canada Post Building at 750 Heron Dr.
Gatineau:
- MP Greg Fergus's office at 200 Prom. du Portage.
- MP Steven MacKinnon's office at 160 Boul. de l'hôpital.
Cornwall:
- Service Canada at 111 Water St.
Kingston:
- Collins Bay Institution at 1455 Bath Rd.
- CFB Kingston at 29 Niagara Park.
- Joyceville Institution at 3766 Highway 15.
Loyalist Township:
- The Bath and Millhaven institutions at 5775 Bath Rd.
Petawawa:
- Garrison Petawawa at 101 Menin Rd.
Trenton:
- 8-Wing Trenton at 6 Northstar Dr.
How did we get here?
Negotiations between the federal government and PSAC's two groups each began in 2021. The union declared an impasse with each unit last year.
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.
About 110,000 to 120,000 PSAC members are eligible to walk off the job once you factor out staff performing work designated as essential, such as employment insurance or pensions.
According to the federal labour board, only about 35 per cent of 120,000 striking federal workers cast ballots in the vote to strike. More than 80 per cent of them voted in favour of striking.
WATCH | Why striking PSAC members want remote work in their contract:
The union had proposed 4.5 per cent for 2021, 2022 and 2023 for the Treasury Board group. It said Monday that had changed, but didn't say more.
The Treasury Board last shared an offer to increase wages by nine per cent over three years, a total that mirrors the recommendations of the third-party Public Interest Commission (PIC).
The CRA has said that's also what it has offered that group of strikers and PSAC has countered with a 22.5 per cent raise over three years.
"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 .
It went on to say the union needs to "start bringing their demands in line" with the PIC report recommendations.
On April 26, the union called on the prime minister to get involved and give it more of what it wants.
