‘Shocked’ public service workers vow to fight three-day in-office requirement

— Unions representing public servants say they were blindsided and outraged by new rules forcing federal employees to work from the office at least three days a week.

The new requirements, which take effect Sept. 9, also stipulate executives will have to be in the office at least four days a week.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada said it will be filing an unfair labour practice complaint and looking into other legal options.

“PSAC members are incredibly frustrated and angered by this announcement,” national president Chris Aylward said.

Previously, most federal public servants had to be in the office at least two days a week. The rules were put in place in March last year, two years after public servants began working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, called the announcement a “disaster.”

“We are shocked at this decision, which has been made in secret without consultation and with no valid reason given,” he said. “We will not be taking this lying down.”

Stéphanie Montreuil, head of public affairs for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, said there was no indication the requirements would be changing.

“We’ve been led to believe that this government would be collaborating with unions and trying to work together. So, obviously, something that comes out of left field like this does not reflect those kinds of values.”

The Treasury Board of Canada said the new rules are being put in place due to the benefits of interacting in person in a “consistent” way.