Public Service Union Prepares Legal Battle Over New Office Requirements
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), representing the country's largest federal public service workforce, has declared the government's new office attendance policy as "grounds for legal action." This strong response follows the federal government's announcement that most public servants must return to their offices for four days each week, beginning July 6, with executives facing full-time in-office requirements starting May 4.
Union Calls Mandate "Insulting" During Bargaining Period
In a sharply worded statement, PSAC President Sharon DeSousa characterized the government's decision as particularly problematic given its timing. "It's insulting for any employer, let alone the government, to change the conditions of work while its workers are in bargaining," the union declared. The announcement comes as PSAC and other public service unions are actively negotiating new collective agreements with the federal government.
The union has emphasized its readiness to pursue all available legal avenues to challenge what it views as an unreasonable shift in workplace expectations. "We will fight, and nothing is off the table," PSAC officials stated, indicating they plan to take "a different approach this time" compared to previous challenges.
Background of Remote Work Disputes and Legal Precedents
This latest conflict builds upon ongoing tensions regarding remote work arrangements within the federal public service. PSAC currently has a paused legal challenge against the existing requirement for three office days weekly, awaiting jurisdictional clarification from the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board.
Significantly, the labour board recently ruled in PSAC's favor regarding telework arrangements for Library of Parliament employees. Legal experts suggest this decision could establish important precedents, potentially opening doors for remote work provisions to be negotiated directly into collective bargaining agreements—a position the federal government has historically resisted.
Broader Context of Public Service Changes
The office mandate announcement coincides with broader workforce adjustments within the federal government. Thousands of public servants have recently received notifications about potential job cuts as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's spending review, which aims to reduce approximately 30,000 public service positions over several years.
PSAC contends that the new office requirements violate a remote work agreement established following the union's 2023 strike action. Rather than incorporating remote work provisions into formal collective agreements, the government and union had settled on a letter of agreement addressing the issue.
Observers anticipate the federal government will appeal the labour board's recent pro-telework decision, setting the stage for continued legal and labor relations conflicts over the future of work arrangements within Canada's public service.
