As the federal government’s new three-day in-office mandate officially took effect on Monday, thousands of union members took to the street in protest, determined to defend telework and the future of work in Canada.

PSAC members united with members from the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), and the Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO) at nationwide protests to contest the government’s policy and fight for a fair approach to telework that puts workers first.

Telework has become more than just a temporary solution, it’s a proven model that enhances productivity and the well-being of workers. It helps workers balance their personal lives with their jobs, reduces our carbon footprint, and creates a more inclusive public service.

“Telework isn’t just a trend, it’s the future of work and the next frontier of workers’ rights,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “We’ve seen firsthand how telework improves peoples’ lives and makes our public service more inclusive and responsive to the needs of Canadians. That’s why we’re committed to fighting for a future that puts workers first.”

It’s clear that PSAC members have serious concerns about this new mandate:

• Over 20,000 registered for our virtual telework town halls;
• More than 40,000 signed our petition in its first week;
• And 65,000+ filled out our telework survey.

Our members are engaged, fired up, and ready to take this fight to the next level.

In the coming weeks, we’re kicking off a national telework campaign in partnership with PIPSC, CAPE, and ACFO. Fueled by a $1 million investment —a clear demand from members at our national convention — the campaign will drive the fight for fair, flexible, and future-focused telework policies that truly work for workers.

We know that #RemoteWorks. Together, let’s make sure the government knows we won’t back down.

Take action now:

• Sign the petition: Demand the repeal of the three-day in-office mandate.
• Take our survey: Share how the mandate impacts your work and life.
• File a grievance: Hold the government accountable for violating the telework agreement.
• Read our FAQs: Get answers to your most pressing questions about telework and the government’s mandate.
• Use our digital tools: Show solidarity with virtual backgrounds, social media images, and #RemoteWorks posters.
• Spread the word: Start a conversation on social media and encourage coworkers to take action, too.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

The federal government wants to force employees to work in ill-equipped offices three days per week only to spend it on virtual meetings. But we know there’s a better way. The outlook for Canada’s public service is bright, and we’re ready to embrace a new future of work.

Are you ready to join us?

This isn’t just about where we work — it’s about our future, our well-being, and the kind of public service we want to build together.

Sign the petition

Public service workers have experienced firsthand the benefits of telework. It’s a proven model that enhances our work-life balance, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. Yet the Trudeau Liberal’s mandate threatens to undo all the progress we’ve made. So, we’re calling on you to take action.

Sign the petition to demand the government repeal the three-day in-office mandate and move to the promised case-by-case framework for telework, rather than the one-size-fits-none model they have committed to. We also want them to enshrine this policy into our collective agreements during the next round of bargaining.

We plan to organize an action to deliver this petition directly to government ministers and department leaders. If you’re ready to fight for telework and help shape the future of our workplace, let us know.

We’re not just signing a petition — we’re building a movement.

Sign the petition

If you’ve signed the petition and want to get involved in another way: 

• Take a short survey: We want to hear about your personal experience with the in-office mandate and how you’re willing to fight back.
• File a grievance: Collectively filing thousands of individual grievances will hold Treasury Board accountable for violating the agreement on telework PSAC negotiated in the last round of bargaining and pressure them to respect their obligations under the agreement.
• Read our FAQs: We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions about telework and the government’s in-office mandate.
• Share these actions: Start a dialogue on social media, encourage your coworkers to sign the petition or file a grievance, and continue making noise so the employer won’t be able to ignore us.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

As the September 9 deadline for the federal government’s three-day in-office mandate approaches, many PSAC members are expressing concerns about how this will impact work-life balance, productivity, and overall well-being.

To help address these concerns, PSAC is collaborating with other federal public service unions to host a virtual town hall on telework. This is an opportunity for unions to give an update on we have been doing to fight back, discuss the challenges of the in-office mandate and how we can collectively push for a future of work that benefits everyone — a future where flexible work arrangements are the norm, not the exception. Because #RemoteWorks.

When:  

Tuesday, August 27, 5 p.m. ET -> Register now

Wednesday, August 28, 12 p.m. ET -> Register now

Wednesday, August 28, 8 p.m. ET -> Register now

Who:

• Sharon DeSousa, National President, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
• Jennifer Carr, President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
• Nathan Prier, National President, Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
• Dany Richard, President, Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO)

The government’s current directive threatens to undo the progress made with telework, a model that has significantly improved job satisfaction and work-life balance. Join the town hall to learn more about the implications of the mandate and how we can push back together.

Ensure your voice is heard as we strive for a modern, inclusive, and flexible workplace.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.