Why are federal public service workers voting on a strike?
PSAC is holding strike votes because contract negotiations with the Treasury Board have stalled after 18 months. The union claims the government's wage offer is too low and that it has refused to discuss remote work, job security, and AI protections.
What happened
- April 2026
The employer presents a wage offer averaging less than 1% per year [1].
- 22 Oct, 2026
PSAC announces nationwide strike votes for 120,000 federal public service workers [1].
- 28 Oct, 2026
Details regarding voting sessions and locations will be shared [1].
- 16 Nov, 2026
Strike voting begins for members in the PA, TC, and EB bargaining groups [1], [2].
- 22 Jan, 2027
Strike voting period concludes [1], [2].
What you need to know
120,000 workers are involved, including fishery officers, federal teachers, librarians, and passport officers [1], [2].
If the vote passes, the union can legally strike for a period of 60 days [2].
The union is seeking better wages and protections against artificial intelligence [1], [2].
Members will receive their voting credentials via email [1].
It is not yet confirmed if a strike will actually occur, as the union describes it as a last resort [1], [2].
Background
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents a large portion of the federal workforce. In 2023, 155,000 members struck for 12 days to secure a 12.6% wage increase for the 2021-2024 term [1], [2]. Recent tensions have grown as the government implements a plan to cut the public service by 10% by the 2028-29 fiscal year [2]. Additionally, many employees are now required to work in the office four days a week, with the government spending over $18 million to reconfigure office spaces [2].
Questions people ask
Who is affected by the strike vote?
Workers in the Technical Services (TC), Program and Administrative Services (PA), and Education and Library Science (EB) groups [1].
What are the main points of disagreement?
Key issues include wages, remote work policies, job security, and protections against AI [1], [2].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.