The Public Service Alliance of Canada has announced that its members should expect to be notified about potential layoffs "shortly" following the passage of the federal government's latest budget, though specific details about the job cuts and buyout packages remain unclear.
Union demands transparency on job cuts
Speaking to reporters on November 18, PSAC national president Sharon DeSousa expressed frustration that the union has not received concrete information about the planned reductions, noting that clarity has been difficult to obtain since the budget just passed in the House of Commons on Monday by a narrow vote of 170-168.
"Right now, it's difficult to tell what the government's incentives are," DeSousa stated. "We haven't been contacted. We have strong collective agreements that our members have fought for... They need to follow the collective agreement and make sure our members' rights are protected."
Massive workforce reduction planned
According to budget documents, the government plans to cut approximately 30,000 public service jobs by the end of the 2028-29 fiscal year, which would reduce the federal workforce to about 330,000 employees. The government has indicated it expects most reductions to occur through attrition and has allocated $1.5 billion for early retirement incentives.
The early retirement program will be available to public servants who meet specific criteria:
- Age 50 or older for those who joined the public service before 2013
- Age 55 or older for those who joined in 2013 or later
- Minimum of 10 years employment
- At least two years of pensionable service
PSAC warns of service deterioration
During a lobby day on Parliament Hill, PSAC members urged parliamentarians to reject what they called an "austerity" budget that will "devastate services" and negatively impact Canadian families and communities.
"People in Canada rely on strong, well-funded, accessible public services, but the tens of thousands of job cuts announced in this budget will make life harder, not easier, for the communities we serve," DeSousa emphasized.
The union president outlined several areas where Canadians would experience service declines:
- Delays in processing old age security, employment insurance, and child care benefits
- Slower veterans benefits processing
- Increased frustration when contacting the Canada Revenue Agency
- Reduced public health and food safety protections
PSAC's lobbying efforts came immediately after the budget's narrow passage, which nearly triggered a holiday-season federal election. The union continues to press for protection of public services and the workers who deliver them as layoff notifications approach.
