Federal unions fight three-day term in office

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Several unions representing federal public servants have come together to express their “vehement opposition” to the government’s decision to require their employees to work in the office three days a week, sending open letters to federal officials and holding a joint press conference.

The federal government updated its policy on remote work last week, requiring public servants to spend three days a week in the office starting in mid-September.

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The decision has been met with frustration from both employees and unions, many of whom have stated that they plan to file unfair labor practice complaints.

From a news conference room in the West Block on Wednesday, union leaders from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CAPE), the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) and The Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO) said the government should prepare for a “summer of discontent.”

“We will use every resource we have available to fight this mandate,” said PSAC national president Chris Aylward, arguing that the surprise policy update was “anti-worker” and “fundamentally breaks the trust of workers and unions in the Trudeau government.” “

Aylward said the union is encouraging its members to file “tens of thousands” of individual complaints, adding that there will be “concerted and coordinated action across the country.”

The unions were “drawing up” the details of the planned tactics, said CAPE president Nathan Prier, who argued that the government did not have any evidence to demonstrate how on-site work can improve employee productivity or well-being. Prier argued that the feds are “only catering to downtown business coalitions, municipal politicians and (Ontario Premier) Doug Ford.”

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The Treasury Board Secretariat has confirmed that it did not conduct any studies on productivity or collaboration before making the decision.

Prier also added that workers have had trouble finding unoccupied workstations in federal office buildings and that several government buildings have had pests such as bats and mice present.

“This will be an important issue for millions of unionized federal workers across the country come bargaining time, but we’re not going to wait until then to start stepping up and defending our members’ rights on this,” Prier said. “We are not just looking to go back to two days, we are going to say that we are ready to fight and throw away all internal politics.”

PSAC has already filed two unfair labor practice complaints against the government this week and two policy complaints: one for its workers under the Treasury Board and another for those under the Canada Revenue Agency. Aylward said he was also considering applying to the Federal Court over the issue.

PIPSC has filed a complaint regarding unfair labor policies and practices. CAPE and ACFO have not yet taken legal action, although they plan to do so shortly.

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In a letter to Treasury Board Chair Anita Anand, dated May 8 and obtained by this newspaper before Wednesday’s press conference, more than 15 union leaders demanded “an immediate reversal” of the policy change. of working from the office, as well as a meeting with the minister and “an unequivocal apology.”

Unions involved include ACFO, CAPE, PIPSC, PSAC and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers.

PSAC, CAPE, PIPSC and ACFO plan to hold a press conference at 11:30 am this morning to “announce further actions to oppose the government’s misguided three-day mandate.”

NDP critic calls on Liberals to fix ‘mess’

Meanwhile, in another letter, the groups took a political stance and called on New Democratic Party of Canada leader Jagmeet Singh to withdraw his support for the Liberals.

“What is particularly concerning is that the New Democratic Party of Canada continues to support a government that engages in such blatant disregard for the rights and well-being of workers,” the letter said, arguing that the policy change affected members and undermined the principles of fair industrial relations and democratic governance. “We urge you, Mr. Singh, to reconsider his party’s position and take decisive action using the power mechanisms of the Confidence and Supply Agreement between the Liberals and the NDP to hold them accountable.”

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In an interview, Aylward said the PSAC union is not asking the NDP to break its agreement or call an early election, but rather to use “every mechanism it has” to get the government to reverse the mandate.

Blake Desjarlais, NDP critic for the Treasury Board, said in a statement that the Liberals “created this mess” by failing to consult and collaborate with unions and workers.

“We ask the Liberals to step back and work with the union to solve this problem,” Desjarlais said. “The NDP will continue to fight for workers every step of the way.”

In their letter to Anand, the unions said the decision marked “the pinnacle of a years-long pattern of disrespect toward bargaining agents.”

“You have shattered any semblance of confidence left in this government’s ability to engage in fair and meaningful labor relations,” the letter said, noting that Anand signed letters of agreement committing to collaborate on remote work. “Without due consideration and consultation, all federal public service workers, whether directly affected by this mandate or not, will experience a loss of trust in the government.”

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The letter argued that Anand decided to “enter into secret deals with politicians, business leaders, and provincial and municipal officials,” actions that it said “reek of betrayal and contempt.”

In an email statement sent to this newspaper before the letters were published, Anand said decisions about remote work “rested with deputy directors and departments.”

“These decisions must continue to prioritize the delivery of high-quality services to Canadians and the prudent management of taxpayer dollars,” Anand said, adding that the policy change was a decision made by the Treasury Board Secretariat, in collaboration with the Privy Council and vice ministers. of the entire government “who support this change.”

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