PSAC Strike information for National Capital Region Members

UPDATE:

The best way to avoid a strike is to be prepared to go on one.

For the past 3 years, PSAC members have stepped up to help Canadians in the most trying of times. Despite members’ continued commitment to serve both from home and from the workplace, Treasury Board and CRA have treated your service with disrespect.

PSAC is looking for you to step up again and take on the unenviable task of preparing to strike. A strike is no one’s first choice but being prepared to strike sends a message that we are serious about the issues that concern you and your coworkers.

The best way to be prepared to strike is by staying informed.

We will be updating this page regularly with information as it becomes available. Bookmark this page and check it regularly.

PICKET LINE LOCATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

Members are strongly urged to take public transit and organize carpools to get to their picket line, as there is no guarantee of available parking for the numbers that will be showing up throughout the day.

TREASURY BOARD – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CRA – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ESSENTIAL SERVICES MEMBERS

STRIKE PAY

Treasury Board and CRA members were sent important information regarding strike pay by email. Strike pay will be processed by e-transfer. Check your personal email address including your promotions and junk folder for an email from noreply@psac-afpc.com and follow through on the steps to set this up. Please note that strike pay does not begin weekly until May 2, 2023. Kindly wait for 2 pay periods before flagging strike pay issues. Any pay that is not reflected in your first strike pay period (May 2, 2023) will be corrected by the 2nd period (after 11:59pm May 18, 2023). Therefore, we will only be able to respond to enquiries issued after the 2nd period.

TRAININGS AVAILABLE

GET INVOLVED

HARDSHIP FUND

The purpose of the Hardship Fund is to provide assistance of an emergency nature, including but not restricted to urgent matters of food and shelter, to members who are incurring/have incurred financial hardship due to being on strike or honouring a picket line. It is not intended to be a source of supplementary strike pay. 

Accommodated Picket Duty Request

PSAC National President Chris Aylward has indicated that the upcoming Treasury Board strike will not have any virtual strike component. This means that to receive strike pay, picketers are expected to show up for a 4-hour picket shift at a picket line.

Accommodated picket duties are intended for people with any type of Canadian Human Rights Act accommodations. However, going on strike may give rise to other types of accommodation needs. This procedure allows members with such needs to seek accommodated strike duties. We realize this will not be a perfect system, but PSAC-NCR aims to create an inclusive procedure for accommodations for members.  

Note: Accommodated picket duties are not for those who have a dentist appointment, vacation request, live too far from the picket line, etc. These duties are solely for members who require accommodation based on a CHRA protected ground.  

MY MANAGER IS PRESSURING ME TO KEEP WORKING IF THERE’S A STRIKE

We are aware that some departments and managers are sharing information that encourages PSAC members to continue working in the event of a strike. This is a union-busting tactic that aims to undermine our efforts to secure a fair agreement for all workers — including wages that keep up with the rising cost of living and don’t force you to take a pay cut. 

If your manager is encouraging you to cross the picket line, talk to your coworkers to see if they are also being pressured, and notify your union steward, local executive, or contact your component for help. 

When we work together, we apply maximum pressure on the government, which can lead to a shorter strike and a better collective agreement for workers.  

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF I DON’T PARTICIPATE IN THE STRIKE?

Any member who works during a strike, including working remotely, betrays the entire bargaining unit. Crossing a picket line, whether in person or remotely, weakens our bargaining position and can cause the strike to last longer or result in a deal that’s less than workers deserve. It could also have long-term impacts on the working relationships between the coworkers who held the line and made sacrifices to get a good deal for everyone, and those who sided with the employer.  

Members who cross the picket line by performing work for the employer could face fines and suspension of membership privileges.  

MY MANAGER SAID I COULD PICKET IN THE MORNING AND REPORT TO WORK IN THE AFTERNOON.

This is false. Members will be expected to picket for 4 hours to receive strike pay. Reporting to work afterwards would still be considered crossing the picket line.

The purpose of a strike is to withdraw our labour and maximize the disruption to the employer so that we can leverage our collective power and make meaningful gains at the bargaining table. 

By continuing to work, you would be undermining our efforts to secure a fair agreement for all workers — including wages that keep up with the rising cost of living and don’t force you to take a pay cut.

Continuing to work also lessens the impact of a full labour disruption. It could also prolong the strike.

The bigger the picket line, the shorter the strike. 

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