CRA Strike Ends as PSAC Reaches Tentative Deal with Government

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has reached a tentative deal with the federal government for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees. The strike involving 35,000 workers has now ended and they have returned to their jobs today. The deal includes wage increases totaling 12.6 percent over the life of the agreement from 2021-2024, along with other components.

The PSAC shared a statement explaining that a tentative deal has been reached between the union representing the CRA and the government. As part of the deal, employees will get wage increases totaling 12.6 percent over the life of the agreement from 2021-2024, an additional fourth year in the agreement that protects workers from inflation, as well as a pensionable $2,500 one-time payment that amounts to an additional 3.6 percent of salary for the average member.

The CRA also issued a release in which it said that a tentative deal has been struck with the union and both parties have agreed to review virtual work arrangements and also create a panel to advise and convey employee concerns to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

On Wednesday, the union said it would plan to send its members to disrupt a Liberal party convention in Ottawa on Thursday if the employer didn’t table a “fair” deal. Now that the agreement has been reached, 35,000 workers who were on legal strike have returned to work today, May 4.

The news comes two days after a tentative deal was struck between the PSAC representing the Treasury Board and the government which called off the strike of over 120,000 employees across the province.

Vineet Washington