The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has announced that public service workers will soon be informed about impending layoffs. Union officials stated that while they have not received detailed information regarding the layoffs or buy-out packages mentioned in the recent federal budget, members can expect notifications from their managers in the near future.

On November 18, PSAC held a lobby day to communicate concerns to parliamentarians about the government's proposed budget cuts. Union president Sharon DeSousa spoke to reporters, emphasizing that the specifics of the job cuts remain unclear following the budget's passage in the House of Commons. "Right now, it’s difficult to tell what the government’s incentives are. 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," DeSousa said.

DeSousa also urged lawmakers to reject what she termed the government’s "austerity" budget. She expressed that the anticipated cuts would severely impact public services, stating, "The anticipated cuts in the latest federal budget will devastate services and hurt families and communities who rely on public services the most."

The budget, which narrowly passed with a vote of 170-168, is expected to result in approximately 30,000 job losses by the end of the 2028-29 fiscal year, reducing the public service workforce to about 330,000 employees. The government has indicated that most of these cuts will occur through attrition, with $1.5 billion allocated for early retirement incentives.

These incentives are available to public servants over the age of 50 who joined before 2013, or those over 55 who joined after 2013, provided they have at least 10 years of employment and two years of pensionable service. However, DeSousa criticized the early retirement plan, arguing that many members do not earn enough to retire comfortably at 50. "There’s this misunderstanding as to how big these pensions are. Our members do not earn that type of money that will enable them to retire that early without having to seek other employment," she said.

DeSousa highlighted the financial struggles faced by many union members, noting that many work multiple jobs to make ends meet. She also questioned the government's funding sources for the buyouts, stating, "I do not want to see this government forcing any worker to be pushed out of their job because they feel the pressure or the crunch. I want to make sure that our members’ rights are protected and that they’re doing this out of their own free will."

As PSAC continues its lobbying efforts, the union remains focused on advocating for the rights and protections of its members amid the uncertainty surrounding the budget cuts and potential layoffs.