As you may know, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has announced strike votes for more than 120,000 of its members, including the PA, SV, TC, and EB groups. They will be conducted from February 22 to April 19, 2023.

Therefore, it’s possible that come the spring, PSAC will be in a legal strike position, and you may come across picket lines in front of your office building. We wanted to keep members informed about their rights and options during their colleagues’ strike action, so we’ve assembled a short FAQ.

Does ACFO-ACAF plan to go on strike?

ACFO-ACAF signed its collective agreement in December 2022. Therefore, we aren’t in a strike position, and it would be illegal to do so any time before the current agreement’s expiry in November 2026.

However, even if the collective agreement hadn’t yet been signed, ACFO-ACAF opted for arbitration rather than a strike before commencing the bargaining round, as this was the overwhelming choice members had selected when surveyed. Before the next round, members will be surveyed again.

Am I obligated to strike or join my colleagues on the picket lines?

Though we encourage you to be supportive of your striking coworkers, ACFO-ACAF is not in a legal strike position. You must abide by the terms and conditions of your collective agreement and report to work as scheduled.

What should I do if a picket line is blocking the entrance to my building?

While ideally picket lines would be peaceful and orderly, if they are blocking access to your building, call your supervisor or another designated management representative and request that they provide safe passage through the picket line. Make sure that you have phone numbers for management representatives who may be required to escort you across picket lines, along with any additional information you may require regarding procedures to follow in your department during strike action. You will be paid if you report to work, even if you spend part of your work hours waiting to be escorted by management, since it’s management’s responsibility to ensure your safety.

I’m a CT-IAU. Am I subject to PSAC’s strike action?

No. Despite previously being members of the PA group, CT-IAUs (formerly AS working in internal audit) are now represented by ACFO-ACAF and are not affected by the strike action due to the recently signed CT collective agreement.

If I’m asked to cover the workload of a striking colleague, am I obligated to do so?

Under the pressures of a strike, management may ask you to perform the work of an employee on strike. Unless you believe the assigned work would be a threat to your safety and security, you cannot refuse a direct order from management, and you should comply with the request.

If you are asked to perform duties that are outside your regular duties and that you feel are not duties that should be performed by a CT, please contact ACFO-ACAF Labour Relations immediately at labourrelations@acfo-acaf.com so we can assist. It is our position that unless the strike work is assigned as a result of an emergency, you are only obligated to perform duties belonging to the Comptrollership (CT) group.

Who should I contact if I have any other questions about others groups’ strike action?

If you’re ever in doubt on how to proceed during strike action, please contact labourrelations@acfo-acaf.com.