Strike votes for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) started in February for nearly 100,000 workers in the core public service, performing jobs in program and administrative services, operational services, technical services, and education and library science covered under four bargaining units. Voting will end on April 11th and should a strike mandate be given, 72-hour notice must be provided before any strike action can be taken. The union is seeking a 13.5 percent raise over three years for the four bargaining units — at 4.5 percent a year. The government has since increased their initial offer to an average of 2.06 percent per year. PSAC is also calling for solutions to harassment, discrimination and systemic racism in the workplace, along with an end to contracting out and privatization. Should a disruption occur essential services will continue but anticipate delivery timelines to be affected. PSAC is set to resume negotiations with the assistance of a third-party mediator during the first two weeks of April.
