Federal Employees Agree to ‘Tough Times’ Wage Deal

(Bill Curry — Globe and Mail)

Federal public servants moved to sidestep a politically charged showdown with the Conservative government yesterday, agreeing in principle to Ottawa’s take-it-or-leave-it final wage offer.

The deal offers more than 100,000 employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada a 6.8-per-cent raise over four years. The union had been asking for more, but said Monday that times have changed.

The government threatened in last week’s Throne Speech to legislate a deal if necessary, and called on all departments to find savings. Also last week, Treasury Board President Vic Toews upset PSAC by publicizing an offer to federal employees, describing it as final.

Union leaders and Treasury Board officials worked through the weekend and came to an agreement late Sunday night, PSAC president John Gordon said.

“Given these tough economic times, we feel this is the responsible thing to do,” he said yesterday. Read the rest here.