Emilie WangPSAC Collective Agreement — Complete Guide to Your Rights and Pay 2026
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is the largest federal public service union in Canada, representing over 230,000 workers across 79 federal departments and agencies. For the approximately 155,000 members of the Programme and Administrative Services (PA) Group — the largest bargaining unit in the entire federal public service — the collective agreement with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) governs every aspect of employment: wages, overtime, vacation, leave, and job security.
The most recent PA Group agreement, signed in June 2023 after a historic 17-day strike in April of that year, secured a compounded wage increase of 12.6% over four years plus a $2,500 pensionable lump sum. As of May 2026, bargaining for the next round is underway. This guide explains the key provisions of the agreement as they stand today, including the wage rates effective June 21, 2024, and the federal payroll deductions that apply in 2025.
Whether you are a clerical worker at CR-4, an administrative services officer at AS-3, or a programme administrator at PM-5, this guide — combined with our free PSAC calculator below — will help you understand exactly what you are owed.
Who Is Covered by the PSAC PA Group Agreement?
The PA Group is a federation of five occupational sub-groups, all bargained under one master collective agreement with TBS:
- CR — Clerical and Regulatory (administrative support, data entry, client services)
- AS — Administrative Services (programme officers, finance officers, policy analysts)
- PM — Programme Administration (immigration officers, fishery officers, benefits officers)
- IS — Information Services (communications advisors, media relations, web content)
- CM — Communications (public affairs, media production)
- WP — Welfare Programmes (social workers, income security officers)
- ST — Secretarial, Stenographic and Typing (executive assistants, court reporters)
If your letter of offer or pay stub shows one of these group codes, this agreement applies to you. Employees covered by other PSAC bargaining units — such as SV (Operational Services), TC (Technical Services), or EB (Education and Library Science) — have separate but structurally similar agreements.
All PA Group employees are federally regulated under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act (FPSLRA). This means the Canada Labour Code (CLC) sets the statutory floor for most employment standards, though the collective agreement often provides considerably better terms.
Current Wage Rates and Pay Grid (Effective June 21, 2024)
The final wage schedule under the 2023–2025 agreement took effect on June 21, 2024 (the "Z" pay line), incorporating a 0.25% pay line adjustment on top of the 2% increase from June 2023. All rates are annual CAD amounts for a 37.5-hour workweek (7.5 hours per day, five days per week, 1,957.5 hours per year).
Clerical and Regulatory (CR) Group — June 21, 2024
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR-1 | $41,947 | $42,820 | $43,708 | $44,593 |
| CR-2 | $45,531 | $46,581 | $47,614 | $48,654 |
| CR-3 | $51,642 | $52,996 | $54,350 | $55,707 |
| CR-4 | $57,217 | $58,738 | $60,255 | $61,761 |
| CR-5 | $62,533 | $64,250 | $65,986 | $67,699 |
| CR-6 | $71,176 | $73,048 | $74,903 | $76,779 |
| CR-7 | $78,952 | $81,137 | $83,324 | $85,533 |
Administrative Services (AS) / Programme Administration (PM) — June 21, 2024
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS/PM-1 | $61,786 | $64,135 | $66,572 |
| AS/PM-2 | $68,849 | $71,464 | $74,180 |
| AS/PM-3 | $73,798 | $76,599 | $79,511 |
| AS/PM-4 | $80,612 | $83,675 | $87,108 |
| AS/PM-5 | $96,235 | $99,892 | $104,044 |
| AS/PM-6 | $107,193 | $111,267 | $115,642 |
| AS/PM-7 | $112,834 | $117,128 | $121,573 |
To convert annual salary to hourly rate: divide by 1,957.5. For example, a CR-4 Step 2 ($58,738) earns approximately $30.01/hour.
Compensation advisors at CR-5 and AS-1 to AS-3 are eligible for a retention allowance of $3,500/year ($13.42 per calendar day). Fishery Officers (PM group) receive an additional $6,500/year fishery officer allowance.
Overtime Rules and Shift Premiums
The PA Group agreement provides overtime provisions that exceed the statutory minimums under the Canada Labour Code.
Overtime Rates (Article 28)
Overtime is authorized in advance by the employer. The rates are:
- Scheduled workday: 1.5× your hourly rate for the first 7.5 consecutive hours of overtime beyond the normal workday; 2× (double time) for each hour thereafter
- First day of rest: 1.5× for the first 7.5 hours, then 2× for additional hours
- Second or subsequent consecutive day of rest: 2× (double time) for all hours worked
- Call-back: If called back to work outside your shift and the assignment is not contiguous with your shift, you are entitled to the greater of 3 hours at the applicable overtime rate, or actual hours worked. The maximum call-back compensation payable in any 8-hour period is 8 hours.
For clarity: if you normally work 7.5 hours a day and are asked to work 3 additional hours on a scheduled workday, you earn 3 × 1.5× for those first 3 hours. This is considerably more generous than the standard CLC threshold of 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week.
Shift and Weekend Premiums (Article 27)
For employees on rotating or irregular shifts:
- Evening/Night premium: $2.25 per hour for all hours worked between 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM
- Weekend premium: $2.25 per hour for hours worked on Saturday and/or Sunday as part of a shift schedule
These premiums are stackable — an employee working a night shift on a Saturday night earns an additional $4.50/hour above their base rate. Premiums also apply to overtime hours worked in those windows, though they are not included in the base rate for overtime calculation purposes.
Vacation and Leave Entitlements
The PA Group vacation entitlement significantly exceeds the minimums under the Canada Labour Code (CLC: 2 weeks/4% for the first 4 years, 3 weeks/6% after 5 years). Federal public servants earn vacation credits monthly based on years of service:
| Years of Continuous Employment | Vacation Credits (per month) | Approximate Days/Year |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 7 years | 9.375 hours | 15 days |
| 8 to 15 years | 12.5 hours | 20 days |
| Year 16 | 13.75 hours | 22 days |
| Year 17 | 14.4 hours | ~23 days |
| 18 to 26 years | 15.625 hours | 25 days |
| Year 27 | 16.875 hours | 27 days |
| 28 years or more | 18.75 hours | 30 days |
The vacation year runs from April 1 to March 31. A minimum of 75 hours of pay in a calendar month is required for full vacation credit accrual that month. Unused vacation must generally be taken before the end of the vacation year, though carry-over arrangements exist with employer approval.
Beyond vacation, the agreement provides for sick leave (9.375 hours/month), family-related leave (up to 5 days per year), bereavement leave (up to 5 days), and personal leave (1 day per year). Maternity and parental leave top-ups bring government parental benefits to approximately 93% of regular weekly earnings for up to 35 weeks.
Notice Period and Severance
Termination Notice (CLC s.230)
For employees subject to the Canada Labour Code, the statutory minimum notice is 2 weeks after 3 months of continuous employment. The PA Group agreement does not prescribe a separate notice scale beyond this statutory floor, but employees facing lay-off are entitled to:
- Written notice of the lay-off (or pay in lieu)
- Priority redeployment to other positions in the federal public service
- Transition support measures under the Work Force Adjustment Directive (WFAD)
Severance Pay
Severance pay under the PA Group agreement historically rewarded long service, but entitlement to severance on resignation and retirement was negotiated away in earlier rounds. As of the current agreement, severance pay applies in the following situations:
- Lay-off (involuntary): 2 weeks' pay for the first year of continuous employment, plus 1 week's pay for each subsequent complete year, to a maximum of 28 weeks
- Death: the same formula, payable to the employee's estate
For context, the CLC (s.235) provides 2 days of wages per year of service for terminated employees with 12+ months of service (minimum 5 days, maximum 40 days). The PA Group severance formula is more generous on lay-off.
Common law reasonable notice — which can provide significantly greater compensation, typically calculated at approximately 1 month per year of service for white-collar workers — is a separate legal right that exists alongside the collective agreement.
CPP, EI, and Federal Benefits
Federal public servants participate in a defined benefit (DB) pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act (PSSA), administered by the Public Services and Procurement Canada pension centre. Employee contribution rates to PSSA are roughly 8–10% of salary depending on the accrual tier — a significant benefit compared to the CPP alone.
In addition to the PSSA, the standard federal payroll deductions apply:
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) — 2025
- CPP1 employee rate: 5.95% on earnings between the basic exemption ($3,500) and the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings ($71,300 for 2025)
- Maximum CPP1 employee contribution: $4,034.10/year
- CPP2 employee rate: 4.0% on earnings between $71,300 and the Year's Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings ($81,200 for 2025)
- Maximum CPP2 employee contribution: $396.00/year
Employment Insurance (EI) — 2025
- Employee EI premium rate: 1.64% of insurable earnings
- Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE): $65,700
- Maximum annual employee EI premium: $1,077.48
Federal public servants continue to pay EI premiums and may collect regular EI benefits if laid off, even as employees of the Crown.
Federal Income Tax — 2025
Federal income tax brackets for 2025 (blended rates apply due to the mid-year tax rate reduction):
| Taxable Income | 2025 Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $57,375 | 14.5% (blended) |
| $57,376 – $114,750 | 20.5% |
| $114,751 – $177,882 | 26.0% |
| $177,883 – $253,414 | 29.0% |
| Over $253,414 | 33.0% |
The 2025 Basic Personal Amount (BPA) is $16,129 for individuals with income up to $177,882. Note that provincial income tax is additional and varies by province — federal public servants across Canada pay different effective total rates.
Key Changes in the 2023 Agreement
The 2023 PA Group agreement, ratified after a landmark strike action in April 2023, introduced several significant improvements:
- Wage increases: A compounded 12.6% increase over four years (2021–2025), plus a $2,500 one-time pensionable lump sum payment
- Remote work language: New Article 46 formalising the hybrid work framework, requiring that remote work arrangements be based on operational requirements and that employees receive written reasons for any changes to approved telework agreements
- Overtime tracking: Improved obligations on the employer to offer overtime equitably among qualified employees
- Emergency leave: Enhanced provisions for leave with pay during declared emergencies
- Anti-harassment: Strengthened language obliging the employer to investigate harassment complaints within defined timeframes
The 2025 round of bargaining (for the next agreement, effective June 21, 2025 and onward) is currently underway as of May 2026. No tentative agreement has been announced. Employees should monitor PSAC's official website for updates.
How to Use This Free Calculator
Our free PSAC federal public service calculator below has six tabs designed to help you estimate your pay and entitlements:
Wages & Tax — Enter your annual salary (or select your group and level) to see your estimated net pay after CPP, EI, and federal income tax deductions. Note: provincial tax is not included; contact your provincial revenue agency for combined estimates.
Overtime & Premiums — Calculate the value of overtime hours worked on any day type, plus shift and weekend premiums. Uses the PA Group Article 28 rates (1.5× / 2×) automatically.
Vacation Pay — Enter your years of service to see your annual vacation entitlement in days and hours, and the dollar value based on your salary.
Notice & Severance — Estimate statutory severance on lay-off using the PA Group formula, and compare with the statutory CLC minimum.
CPP & EI — See your annual CPP (including CPP2) and EI contributions, plus what your employer pays on your behalf.
Statutory Holidays — Calculate the value of your 11 federal statutory holidays plus your provincial holiday, and estimate premium pay if you are required to work on a stat day.
Legal Disclaimer: Calculations are indicative only and do not constitute legal advice. Employment standards vary by province and whether you are federally regulated. For specific advice, contact the Canada Labour Program (1-800-641-4049), your provincial Employment Standards office, or a labour lawyer.
Conclusion
The PSAC PA Group collective agreement offers federal public service employees some of the strongest employment protections in Canada — from a generous vacation schedule that starts at 15 days and grows to 30 days, to overtime rates that exceed what the Canada Labour Code mandates, to a defined-benefit pension that provides long-term income security in retirement. Understanding these provisions helps you advocate for yourself, plan your finances, and know when to involve your union steward.
Use the free calculator on this page to estimate your net pay, overtime entitlements, and severance — and bookmark this guide as the 2025 round of bargaining concludes and new rates take effect.
Calculations are indicative only — not legal advice. Contact the Canada Labour Program (1-800-641-4049) or a labour lawyer for specific guidance on your situation.
