(Montreal) The challenge to the requirement for federal public servants to come to work at least three days a week in the office will be heard by the Tribunal. The Federal Court has in fact refused the government’s request to dismiss outright the challenge by the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Under the directive of the federal government of 1er Last May, federal civil servants will have to come to work in the office at least three days a week as of September 9.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) filed a motion on May 31 before the Federal Court, contesting this directive, in addition to filing grievances and complaints.
The federal government had then attempted to convince the Federal Court to summarily dismiss the PSAC’s request or to suspend its hearing until decisions were rendered concerning the grievances and complaints relating to the subject.
But the Federal Court dismissed the government’s request, finding that it had failed to convince it that it was necessary to dismiss the PSAC’s application at this stage of the proceedings. It therefore agreed to hear the application by the large pan-Canadian union of federal public servants.
“The Federal Court’s decision to hear our case represents a real step forward in the fight by federal public servants for a fair and transparent approach to telework,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President.