Some Canadian workers in wage pact with government to end strike from Monday

OTTAWA - Canada has agreed to a new wage deal with a union representing 120,000 federal workers, the union said on Monday.

It brings an end to the

country’s largest public sector strike,

which had crippled services from tax returns to immigration.

While the 120,000 Treasury Board employees are set to return to work, more than 35,000 revenue agency workers striking since April 19 are expected to continue into Monday, the union, which represents both groups, said in a statement.

“Strike action continues across the country for 35,000 members at Canada Revenue Agency,” the union said, adding that talks would resume with a new mandate for a fair contract.

Their key outstanding concerns include fair wages,

the right to work remotely

and the role of seniority in layoffs.

However, the Treasury workers’ deal exceeded “the employer’s original offer before the launch of strike action”, the union added.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union, which had been in collective bargaining for a new contract since 2021, ramped up pressure on the government in April by calling for the rare wide-ranging strike.

The resulting shortage of staff at about two dozen government agencies caused delays and disruptions in services such as passport renewals. REUTERS