The union representing tens of thousands of striking Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) workers says they haven’t yet been able to reach a deal with the federal government.
Some 35,000 CRA employees remain on the picket lines, two days after the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reached a tentative agreement with the Treasury Board for more than 120,000 other federal government workers who’d been striking since April 19.
The striking CRA workers are represented by PSAC and one of its subcomponents, the Union of Taxation Employees.
At a press conference Wednesday, PSAC national president Chris Aylward said the two sides were still talking but a deal had not materialized.
“We’ve compromised. I’m not going to say exactly where we’re at, or where each side is at,” Aylward said.
“But I can tell you … that the deal they have on the table currently is less than the deal that we reached Monday with Treasury Board units. And we don’t know why the Canada Revenue Agency is playing this game.”
PSAC said Monday that some issues relating to hours of work and information management for CRA employees had been resolved. Wages, telework, job security and protections against contracting out certain positions were among the remaining sticking points.
Despite the fact the CRA strike took place in the midst of tax season, the deadline for Canadians to file their taxes was not extended.
CRA declined an interview but told Radio-Canada in a French statement Wednesday they were still at the bargaining table and were working “tirelessly” on a fair and reasonable deal.
