Federal government claims offer to PSAC on Friday is 'final'

The federal government says it continues to negotiate with the union representing more than 155,000 federal public servants, and has tabled what it calls a 'final' offer that addresses the four main issues at the bargaining table.

The federal government says it continues to negotiate with the union representing more than 155,000 federal public servants, and has tabled what it calls a "final" offer that addresses the four main issues at the bargaining table.

Government negotiators made the offer to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) on Friday. In a news release Saturday, the Treasury Board Secretariat called it a "fair, competitive and reasonable final offer."

"[Friday], Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat negotiators tabled a final updated comprehensive offer that addresses all remaining PSAC demands," the government said. "Specific details are being kept to the negotiating table, however, this offer builds on the third-party Public Interest Commission recommendation with an enhanced wage offer."

Wages have been a sticking point for the two sides. The government had been pushing a nine per cent increase over three years, but the union accused them of refusing to budge, even after PSAC moved away from its demand of a 13.5 per cent increase over three years.

Details of the new wage offer from the government were not released Saturday.

The government said it also offered "solutions to address priorities such as telework, seniority, and contracting without impeding our ability to deliver services to Canadians."

Remote work, seniority issues, and hiring contractors were identified earlier this week as the main sticking points between the two sides in an open letter from Treasury Board President Mona Fortier.