Question Period Note: Return to Bargaining Table at OAG and Offer at PSAC main tables

The employer is tabling a first economic offer at the PSAC common issues table on Tuesday, March 29, 2021, for the 2021 round of bargaining. Early indication is that PSAC could declare impasse after receiving this offer.

That same day, the Office of the Auditor General will table a new seven-year offer to PSAC for 150 employees who are responsible for finance, human resources, communications and facilities management who are on strike as part of the 2018 round of bargaining. Elements of this offer mirror the offer that will be put forward at the PSAC common issues table and there is a possibility that the PSAC will again walk away from the negotiating table.

Interest from parliamentarians, local and some national media is expected to be high until an agreement is reached with the OAG and there could be interest if PSAC declares impasse in the 2021 negotiations as they represent 60 percent of employees in the core public administration.

Response 1 (if impasse is declared at main tables)

• The Government of Canada is committed to reaching agreements that are fair to employees, mindful of today’s economic and fiscal context, and reasonable for Canadians.

• We are disappointed that PSAC has walked away from the bargaining table at this stage of negotiations when we have just tabled a first economic offer.
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Response 2 (if pressed on the substance of the economic offers as non-starters given inflationary pressures)

• Offers by all federal employers continue to reflect a commitment to building a world-class public service by recruiting and retaining the best federal employees.

• We also continue to take Canada’s economic reality into account in the context of our offers in negotiations, including the reality that the pandemic years have been devastating for many employees in Canada.

• Our goal is to take constructive steps to advance negotiations. We are hopeful the Public Service Alliance of Canada will do the same.

Response 3 (if pressed about TBS’s role in OAG negotiations)

• TBS establishes a government-wide mandate to set all federal employers up for success in reaching fair agreements with their bargaining agents.

• The mandate provided to the Office of the Auditor General is fair, fiscally responsible and provides the basis to reach an agreement.

• We encourage employees to seek the details on the government’s proposals from their bargaining agent.

Response 4 (if pressed about substance of OAG mandate)

• Talks at this table are happening at the same time as a new 2021 round of bargaining is underway. This has provided an opportunity for the parties to look longer term in seeking the basis for an agreement.

• I understand that the OAG’s recent offer includes the adoption of a pay grid to establish set annual salary increases which is a key priority for OAG employees.

• We encourage employees to seek the details on the government’s proposals from their bargaining agent.

Response 6 (if pressed on arbitration requests being raised on the OAG picket line)

• It’s surprising that the Alliance is now asking for binding arbitration.

• Every federal bargaining table has a dispute resolution mechanism in the event talks break down. And at every table, it’s the union that decides the mechanism.

• At the OAG table, it’s my understanding that the Alliance didn’t choose arbitration when they could have. Instead, they chose conciliation knowing it could end in a strike.

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