Canada Visa, Immigration Services May Disrupted As Over 155,000 Public Servants Set to Strike

According to a report by AFP, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the largest union of Canadian government employees, is preparing to go on strike, potentially disrupting vital government services such as immigration, passport services, tax processing, and government buildings.

Notably, more than 155,000 public servants are planning to go on strike on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 if a deal is not reached with the government on wages and other demands, the union announced on Monday.

No Contract Since 2021

Employees at over 20 government departments, including the Canada Revenue Agency, have been without a contract since 2021. Last week, the workers overwhelmingly voted to strike.

According to union officials, the two sides are at odds over wages, job security, and remote work. They argue that workers are entitled to fair wages and working conditions.

However, negotiations have been going on for nearly two years, and union members are financially behind.

The Strike Countdown

The PSAC has set a deadline of 9 p.m. (0100 GMT) Tuesday for the government to reach an agreement. If not, a national general strike will be declared at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.

Despite the fact that the PSAC is dwarfed by the larger Canadian Union of Public Employees, a strike by its members would be disruptive.

Potential Service Disruptions

Canadians should expect delays in the processing of income tax returns, immigration and asylum requests, passport applications, and foreign worker permits if PSAC workers strike. Consular services and new requests for veterans’ benefits would also be impacted.

The PSAC hopes that the countdown will encourage the government to negotiate a fair contract with its employees. Union members believe they are entitled to higher wages, job security, and remote work opportunities.

The Canadian government must choose between meeting the union’s demands and risking widespread service disruptions.