Psac Collective Agreement Vote
On May 19, 2021, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced the results of a collective agreement vote for its members in the Program and Administrative Services (PA) group. This vote was a critical step towards securing better working conditions, wages, and benefits for PSAC members.
The PA group comprises approximately 70,000 employees who work in office, administrative, and program support roles across the federal public service. The collective agreement that governs their working conditions was set to expire in 2018, and PSAC has been negotiating with the government since then to secure a new agreement.
The vote was conducted between April 26 and May 18, and the turnout was high, with 78.4% of eligible members casting their ballots. The results showed that 91.6% of those who voted were in favor of accepting the new agreement, which includes wage increases, expanded family leave options, and improved job security provisions.
PSAC National President Chris Aylward hailed the vote as a significant victory for the union`s members, saying, “The collective agreement for the Program and Administrative Services group is one of the largest and most complex agreements in the federal public service, affecting more than 70,000 PSAC members. With this agreement, we have secured important gains for our members and their families, while also protecting their rights and ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.”
The PSAC negotiating team worked tirelessly to secure a fair agreement for its members, which included significant wage increases. Under the new agreement, PA group employees will receive a 2.8% increase for each year of the agreement, as well as a 1.5% market adjustment in 2021 and 2022.
In addition to improved wages, the new agreement includes several important benefits for PSAC members. This includes expanded family leave options, which will allow employees to take up to 37 weeks of leave to care for a critically ill or injured family member, and up to 5 days of paid leave for family-related responsibilities such as performing elder care or attending a child`s school event.
The agreement also includes job security provisions that will protect employees from layoffs, including a commitment from the government to explore job-sharing arrangements and other measures to avoid job losses. Overall, the agreement represents a significant step forward for PSAC members in the PA group and a positive example of cooperation between unions and employers.
In conclusion, the PSAC collective agreement vote was a significant win for union members in the Program and Administrative Services group. With improved wages, expanded family leave options, and job security provisions, the new agreement represents a fair and balanced deal for both workers and employers.