Treasury Board bargaining trivia contest: work-life balance

Nearly 75 per cent of PSAC members have been working remotely since the pandemic started, and more than 90 per cent want to continue having similar work arrangements when the pandemic ends.

What will our new normal look like? A lot depends on this round of bargaining with Treasury Board.

PSAC’s Treasury Board bargaining teams are pushing improvements in the next contract that will allow members to shape their workday to match their personal and family responsibilities, for clear rules around remote work, the right to disconnect, and for expanded leave provisions.

Here’s a quick quiz about some of the victories PSAC has won at the bargaining table around work-life balance.

PSAC BC is giving away one grand prize worth $500 and two runner-up prizes worth $250 made up of gift baskets filled with goodies from our favourite local businesses and unionized workplaces in Vancouver, including Valu Co-op, the East End Food Co-op, Café Etico, Purdy’s Chocolates, Mohr Good Ideas and the Bill Reid Gallery.

Participants will be entered through a random draw.

Everyone who takes part in the quiz will be entered into the draw and each correct answer will give you one extra entry into the draw – don’t be afraid to use google to help you get four out of four!

We’ll hold the draw on February 24th, just before the panel starts.

The trivia contest is now over. Congratulations to our winners!

  • Grand prize: Johan L from Service Canada
  • Runner-up prizes: Grant W from the Department of National Defence and Michelle I from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

And here are the correct answers …

What year did PSAC negotiate the first Treasury Board collective agreement that provided for realistic scheduling of flexible hours?

  • 1965
  • 1979 ✅ Work life balance has been a priority for our members going back as far as the 1970’s.
  • 1990
  • 2002

During the 1991 strike, PSAC members were legislated back to work by the Mulroney government. PSAC was, however, able to negotiate this important win into the collective agreement *

  • The Canada Labour Code, Part II
  • The Workforce Adjustment Appendix ✅ The portion of the contract protects members should layoffs or downsizing take place. The WFA became a critical benefit to members when the Mulroney government implemented massive cutbacks in the mid-90s, and again under Harper in the 2010’s.
  • Pay Equity
  • The Joint Learning Program

What year did PSAC negotiate the right for Treasury Board members to carry-over vacation leave? *

  • 1970
  • 1973 ✅ This was PSAC’s second round of bargaining with Treasury Board, after federal public service workers won the right to unionize in 1967.
  • 1980
  • 1989

Which of the following did PSAC members >>not<< win in the 1980 CR strike? *

  • Paid maternity leave
  • Equal pay for work of equal value ✅ Members won all three in 1980. Pay equity was won in the 1990’s after a lengthy legal battle.
  • Family leave
  • Salary increases



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