Central government employees strike Ottawa and CRA union members agree

Thursday night’s announcement came days after the two sides struck separate deals that ended a strike by more than 120,000 other government workers earlier this week.

CRA employees were still on strike two days after the federal deadline for filing personal income tax returns.

The union is asking members to return to work on Thursday, May 4 at 11:30 a.m. EST.

The tentative agreement includes a 12.6% salary increase for the duration of the contract from 2021 to 2024, as well as an additional fourth year to protect workers from inflation, the Public Service Alliance wrote in a statement.

Earlier in the talks, the tax employees’ union had demanded a 20.5% increase over a three-year period.

The agreement also provides for a one-time pensionable lump sum of $2,500, which represents 3.6% more of the average member’s salary.

In its own press release, the Canada Revenue Agency says it has reached a tentative agreement with the union on telework outside of the collective agreement. Both parties will review the directive on virtual work arrangements and form an advisory panel to address employee concerns.

On Wednesday, the union threatened to send its members to disrupt Thursday’s Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) conference in Ottawa unless the employer presents a fair contract.