As many as 155,000 federal workers plan to walk off the job on April 19 if a new labour agreement isn’t reached, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The country's largest union says the federal government in Ottawa has until 9 p.m. Eastern time today (April 18) to reach a new contract or its members will strike, including 35,000 workers at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Mediated contract negotiations between the union and the federal Treasury Board continued over the weekend, but no deal has been reached.
The main sticking point is pay, with the union calling for raises to keep up with the rising cost of living amid historic levels of inflation across Canada.
The federal government offered a 2% wage increase each year over a five-year period, while the union has pushed for annual raises of 4.5% for the next three years.
The union also wants limits on contract work and more remote work for federal workers.
If the union strikes, federal services ranging from tax processing to passport renewals will be negatively impacted.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said that its members plan to picket at strategic locations across the country.
