PSAC set to launch $1-million remote work campaign

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As the deadline for government workers to return to the office on a more regular basis approaches, the largest federal public service union is preparing to launch a $1-million telework campaign.

Government employees under the purview of the Treasury Board as well as some other departments and agencies are expected to be back in the office at least three days a week, four for managers, as of Sept. 9.

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Several federal unions have contested that decision since it was made in early May, holding rallies, filing complaints and encouraging members to submit grievances.

In early fall, the Public Service Alliance of Canada plans to ramp up its efforts to “fight back” against what it has called a misguided and unilateral mandate. The union aims to use the national campaign to fight for telework in court and during contract negotiations, which are expected to begin again in spring 2025.

During union-led virtual town halls on remote work this week, with more than 10,000 attendees, PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa said the campaign would be launched alongside the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) and the Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO).

“Together, we’ll be pressuring the government in the streets, on Parliament Hill, on TV, over the radio and in newspapers and social media feeds across the country,” DeSousa said.

At PSAC’s national convention in May, members voted to commit $1 million from the union’s unallocated surplus to “actions to defend members’ right to telework.”

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The resolution said PSAC would mobilize to “force the federal government to honour their commitment, rescind their three-day in office mandate, and respect negotiated telework agreements” and ensure that the government “respect all commitments that they have taken within the structure of negotiations and formally consult the unions.”

When a massive public service strike ended in 2023, the union told employees they’d be freed from a “one-size fits all” hybrid work model, with a letter of agreement between the parties promising creation of a joint consultation committee to review the government’s directive on telework, which discusses the management of individual telework agreements. The letter also promised departmental panels to address employees’ concerns about work arrangements.

The unions have said the government’s decision to increase workers’ required office presence has contradicted its commitments and has been made without consultation.

“Telework was at the heart of our historic national strike last year, but that fight is far from over,” DeSousa said during a virtual townhall on Wednesday, adding she would be meeting with Treasury Board President Anita Anand in September and telework would top the agenda. “We’re working together to overturn this mandate and work to truly enshrine remote work in our contracts.”

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Treasury Board has confirmed it did not complete any studies on productivity or collaboration before making the decision to require increased attendance at offices. Anand previously told the Ottawa Citizen that the policy update was an administrative decision taken with the Privy Council and deputy ministers from across government. She also said she had and would continue prioritizing relationships with unions.

On top of a national campaign, the unions said during the townhall that rallies would continue throughout September, including Sept. 9, when the new mandate takes effect.

PSAC, CAPE, PIPSC and ACFO have also launched petitions on remote work, with PSAC’s petition already receiving 10,000 signatures since its launch on Wednesday. Delivery of the petitions to members of Parliament, Anand and department heads is expected to begin on Sept. 9.

CAPE president Nathan Prier said during the townhall that his union was also developing guidance for members to put together “the strongest case possible” for their telework requests as well as organizing a community coalition on telework alongside other organizations. Prier said the unions wanted “general remote work rights and the removal of mandatory in-office presence.”

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“We are looking at every legal piece in our arsenal. We are making sure that we’re even going to go to the Supreme Court on this,” DeSousa said, adding that, if the union were to announce a strike now, it would be considered illegal as PSAC would not be in a bargaining position. “It’s not just about clogging up the system, it’s about letting a paper trail be there so, when we get into bargaining, we can present tangible data, proof that our members are not happy with how this policy is being implemented.

“The next round of bargaining is just around the corner,” DeSousa said. “For the first time in a long time that I remember, our unions are united and co-ordinated. That’s nearly 275,000 workers fighting together. And, if we need to take strike action to win this fight, we’ll have the union power to do so.”

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