On May 1st, 2023, the Federal Government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reached an agreement regarding the strike that affected over 155,000 public servants, including those in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The strike that started on April 19, 2023, was due to disagreements from both PSAC and the Federal Government. The dispute was related to:

The increase in wages to meet the cost of living
The increase in remote work arrangements
Senior staff priority in a downsizing situation
The banning of contracting out work

For the past weeks, Canadian services, such as those in immigration, were disrupted due to the strike, significantly delaying processing times. Other services impacted by the strike include passport processing, limited client intakes within Service Canada locations, and delays in services in Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian Transportation Agency, and Global Affairs Canada.

Federal Strike Resolved

On May 1, upon the announcement of the agreement, members of PSAC were instructed to return to work for their next available shift. In the tentative agreement, PSAC was able to secure a fair contract for the interest of its employers. PSAC National President, Chris Aylward, believes the agreement exceeded the employer’s original offer prior to the strike, “This agreement delivers important gains for our members that will set the bar for all workers in Canada.”

Furthermore, the highlights of the agreement include:

PSAC negotiated a 12.6% wage increase for 2021-2024, including protection from inflation within the fourth year.
Pensionable one-time lump sum payment of $2,500 eligible for all members employed at the time of the agreement.
Better remote-work arrangements
Protections against contracting out

View PSAC’s official announcement for more details surrounding the agreement.

Immigration Back to Normal

As mentioned, the strike caused major disruptions to immigration services. With the agreement, the IRCC states that immigration services are set to return to their regular processing rates within the next few days. For now, the available services include online and mail applications, access to emergency services, settlement services from partner organizations, healthcare through the Interim Federal Health program and access to visa application centers outside of Canada.

How mana immigration Can Help

If you have questions or concerns about the state of your application due to the recent strike/agreement, our experts can help. Fill up our assessment form, and our experts can discuss your next steps. At mana immigration, our regulated consultants have 20 years of experience in multiple cases regarding immigration.

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