PSAC Strike. Image credit Twitter page of Canadian Labour
Chris Aylward, national president of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) accused the federal government during a media conference Saturday afternoon outside a downtown Ottawa hotel, of failing to respond to a new offer tabled on Thursday night.
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier issued a statement two-and-a-half hours later saying PSAC did not respond to a request to meet on Friday and cancelled a planned meeting Saturday afternoon.
“While our negotiators and our offer waited, Mr. Aylward chose instead to go on television to complain he had not received it,” Fortier said, adding “the facts don’t support the claims made by PSAC today.”
A nationwide strike by 155,000 Canada’s largest public sector union, PSAC began Wednesday after an agreement with the Treasury Board could not be reached with the federal government by Tuesday night.
On Saturday afternoon, the two sides returned to the bargaining table on day four of a strike that has affected many federal government departments including passport applications, immigration applications and tax returns.
In a media conference on Saturday Aylward was reported saying that the union presented Treasury Board with a “comprehensive package” on Thursday but by Saturday afternoon, he had not received a reply.
Aylward called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get involved.
At 3:35 p. m, a statement was issued by the Treasury Board president, Fortier calling on PSAC to “bargain in good faith” to reach an agreement.
Fortier says since the start of negotiations, the government has made “numerous proposals” to PSAC who did not respond.
The talks resumed Saturday when the PSAC returned to the table after their press conference.
When asked about funds, Aylward said the union is paying $75 per day in strike pay to more than 100,000 striking workers.
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