The Public Service Alliance of Canada announced Wednesday that it will hold nationwide strike votes for 120,000 federal public-service workers, with ballots scheduled from November 16 to January 22, 2027.

The October 21 announcement covers the Program and Administrative Services, Technical Services, and Education and Library Science bargaining groups. It announces a vote, not a strike mandate already obtained or a date for a walkout.

Union seeks leverage in contract talks

PSAC says negotiations with Treasury Board have not resolved disputes over pay, job security, remote work and protection from the effects of artificial intelligence. It describes the employer’s wage proposal as averaging less than one per cent a year.

That characterization is the union’s assessment of the offer. Its national president, Sharon DeSousa, said the aim remains a negotiated agreement and described striking as a last resort.

Voting-session dates, locations and registration details are to be shared October 28, according to PSAC. The union says information sessions and voting will run through the November-to-January period.

No service interruption announced

The workers represented in the three groups include passport and benefits officers, federal teachers and librarians, fishery officers, administrative employees and wildland firefighters, the union says.

The Canadian Press reported Wednesday that the parties have been negotiating for about a year and a half. Whether members support job action remains to be decided; the announcement does not tell Canadians that a service is currently closed or that a strike will necessarily occur.

Sources