A collective agreement is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of employment for unionized workers. In Canada, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is a leading union that represents over 170,000 workers in the federal public sector. PSAC negotiates collective agreements on behalf of its members to secure fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions.
One of the most recent collective agreements negotiated by PSAC is the Program and Administrative Services (PA) collective agreement. This agreement covers more than 80,000 workers in the federal public service who provide administrative, operational, and program support to Canadian citizens.
The PA collective agreement was ratified in June 2019 and includes several new provisions that benefit PSAC members. For example, workers will receive a 6% pay increase over the life of the agreement (four years), which will help to offset inflation and rising costs of living. Additionally, workers will receive increased parental leave and improved job security measures.
One key feature of the PA collective agreement is the Phoenix damages settlement. The Phoenix pay system was implemented by the federal government in 2016, and it caused significant problems for many PSAC members who experienced delayed or incorrect pay. The collective agreement provides compensation for workers who experienced financial hardship as a result of Phoenix.
Another important provision of the PA collective agreement is the Mental Health Support Fund. This fund will provide $10 million over four years to support the mental health needs of PSAC members who work in high-stress environments. This fund is an important recognition of the challenges that workers in the federal public sector face, and it will help to provide much-needed support to those who need it most.
PSAC members can be proud of the new collective agreement that has been negotiated on their behalf. The PA collective agreement provides fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions, and it recognizes the unique challenges that federal public sector workers face in their daily work. As PSAC continues to negotiate new collective agreements in the coming years, we can expect to see continued improvements in the lives and working conditions of unionized workers in Canada.