The Public Service Alliance of Canada, also known as PSAC, has begun a strike that might have a significant impact on the nation's immigration services. Up to 155,000 employees of the federal government are expected to take part in the work stoppage. It began when the government and the union were unable to have an amicable agreement about wages and work-from-home policies.

Reason Behind the Strikes

Over 155,000 public employees are represented by the union, which claims that fair pay, a better work-life balance, greater workplace diversity, and fewer layoffs are the reasons behind the strike. The strike happened after the government and the federal employees' union were unable to agree on pay and remote work policies.

On April 17, the government claimed that negotiations had taken place between the two parties in an effort to prevent a strike. At the time, the government put forth a 9% wage rise proposal spread over three years that was in line with the suggestions made by the independent Public Interest Commission.

The two primary groups of federal employees being discussed are the 35,000 tax agency employees and the 120,000 employees of Canada's Treasury Board. Although talks are still going on, the two sides are still quite far apart.

Ensuring that PSAC members can continue to work remotely is one of the important problems. According to the union, during the COVID-19 pandemic, public service employees proved to be equally effective working from home as they were in the workplace, and 90% of them wished to keep doing so.

Moreover, as per the government, the demands will have a significant influence on its ability to efficiently manage people inside the public sector as well as its ability to provide services to Canadians.

The Impact It Will Have

The strike by federal employees is anticipated to have significant consequences. Wide-ranging government functions, including immigration services, passport renewals, and others, could be affected by the strike. Given below are the impacts these strikes will have:

• Applications and other services for processing passports could be entirely or partially disrupted, Employment and Social Development Canada is advising. This could be devastating news for a system that is already facing backlogs.
• In the case of a strike, Global Affairs Canada states that only essential services will be provided, but delays are anticipated.
• Applicants and appointments may experience delays, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Processing of income tax and benefit returns could take longer than expected.
• The Canadian Transportation Agency issues a caution about call-taking and dispute-resolution delays.
  
  

Conclusion

Applications for passports and immigration are anticipated to be significantly impacted by the ongoing strike by federal employees in Canada. For Canadians who depend on essential services, there must be as little disturbance as possible throughout the ongoing discussions.

FAQS

When was the last federal strike of this scale in Canada?

The last time a federal strike of this scale in Canada happened was in 1991. The strike resulted in delays to grain shipments, flights, and cross-border travel.

What services are expected to be impacted by the strike?

The strike is expected to impact multiple government services, including tax filings, passport renewals, and immigration services. Delays and backlogs are expected in these areas due to legal work action.