PSAC Announces Strike Votes for 120,000 Federal Public Service Workers

Conceptual ballot box and blank folded paper on an office desk overlooking Ottawa

Updated: 21 October 2026, 8:52 p.m. EDT (Toronto)

The Public Service Alliance of Canada announced on Wednesday, 21 October, that about 120,000 federal public service workers across Canada will take part in strike votes beginning next month, as its contract dispute with the Treasury Board continues.

In its official announcement, PSAC said voting would run from 16 November 2026 to 22 January 2027. The votes cover members of the Program and Administrative Services, Technical Services, and Education and Library Science bargaining groups.

Those groups include passport and benefit officers, wildland firefighters, fishery officers, federal teachers, librarians and administrative workers. The announcement concerns a vote on potential job action; it does not set a date for a walkout.

PSAC said wages, job security, remote work and protections involving artificial intelligence remained disputed issues after roughly a year and a half of negotiations. It described the government’s wage proposal as averaging less than one per cent annually. Those are the union’s account of the bargaining dispute.

The Canadian Press, reporting through Global News, independently confirmed the voting timetable. Union president Sharon DeSousa said a strike remained a last resort and that the goal was a collective agreement.

PSAC said it would release dates, locations and registration details for information and voting sessions on 28 October. Members are to receive voting credentials by email. No vote result or strike start date has been announced.

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