Employees at Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are back at work today (May 5) after their union reached a tentative labour agreement with the federal government in Ottawa.
About 35,000 CRA workers had been on strike for more than two weeks, putting on hold the processing of Canadians’ taxes this spring. The job action began two days after the federal government’s annual tax-filing deadline.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) Union of Taxation Employees, which represents CRA staff, said they’ve reached a tentative deal with the federal government that includes wage increases totalling 12.6% over four years.
The agreement also includes a pensionable $2,500 one-time lump sum payment that represents an additional 3.6% of salary for the average union member.
For its part, Canada Revenue Agency said it and the union have reached a tentative settlement on remote work arrangements, agreeing to undertake a review of the practice.
Earlier in the labour negotiations, the union representing CRA workers had requested a 20.5% pay increase over three years.
The resumption of work at CRA ends federal labour unrest that also included a strike of 120,000 regular PSAC members in recent weeks.
Federal workers represented by PSAC outside of the Canada Revenue Agency previously returned to work after reaching a deal with the federal government that includes an 11.5% wage increase over four years.
