The union representing 35,000 striking Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) workers says there’s no indication right now that back-to-work legislation is coming.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada and Union of Taxation Employees (PSAC-UTE) continues to negotiate with the CRA for a new deal, despite more than 120,000 non-CRA members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reaching a tentative deal with the Treasury Board earlier this week.
UTE is a distinct unit within PSAC that handles negotiations for CRA workers.
The union’s comment comes as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said Wednesday that the three week old strike needs to end, asking for Ottawa to legislate them back to work.
“The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, they got to do what they got to do, but certainly nobody is contemplating back-to-work legislation from what we understand, which is a good thing,” said PSAC National President Chris Aylward.
PSAC-UTE said Tuesday that it had resumed in-person negotiations for a new deal with CRA workers, but had yet to reach an agreement on Wednesday.
CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a statement that small businesses have suffered “financial harm” tied to the CRA strike amid unanswered tax questions and uncertainty about filing deadlines.
The deadline to file personal income taxes already passed on Monday, but small business owners and self-employed workers have until June 15 to file with the CRA. Those who owe money to the CRA, however, were expected to pay by the May 1 date.
Kelly also flagged concerns about the size of wage settlements resulting from the labour action. The larger PSAC unit representing 120,000 workers secured a 12.6 per cent compounded wage hike over four years in its own negotiations as part of an effort to catch up with decades-high inflation from the past year.
But the Bank of Canada, which is attempting to keep a lid on inflation after rapidly raising its benchmark interest rate, has warned that significant, ongoing wage increases could keep inflation higher for longer.
“This is not the time for union demands for giant wage hikes. The government should not set a precedent for the remaining 20 bargaining units that are in a position to strike by letting this one drag out any longer,” Kelly said in a statement.
“We hope public service unions show good faith at the bargaining table and reach a quick resolution that comes at a reasonable cost to Canadians.”
PSAC-UTE’s initial wage demand was a 29.5 per cent increase over three years, as well as other non-wage-related demands. The CRA was offering a nine per cent wage increase over the same time period.
Alyward said the union has compromised on its wage demands, but said the latest deal the CRA presented was less than what PSAC agreed to with the Treasury Board.
“Enough is enough. We want to see a fair deal on the table today. Our members are fed up. We’re fed up, and our members need to get back to work and serving Canadians,” he said, adding if an agreement is not reached Wednesday, CRA workers will strike at the Liberal Party of Canada convention in Ottawa Thursday.
“They will continue to walk those lines until we see a fair offer from the Canada Revenue Agency.”
— with files from The Canadian Press
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