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PSAC has stood firm on its refusal to make concessions on sick leave. But some say the agreement protecting the existing regime could divide other unions.

“I am proud of our negotiating teams for standing strong during these two long, difficult years at the table,” PSAC president Robyn Benson said in a statement to members.

“I am equally proud of our members for their strength and solidarity. It is because of them that our teams were able to prevent the concessions on sick leave that the employer had been pushing for.”

This round of bargaining began with the previous Conservative government wanting to replace the existing sick leave with a short-term-disability plan.

The Liberals continued with the same offer but dropped the Tories’ plan to impose it by legislation.

Public servants currently get 15 days’ sick leave a year. They typically take about 12 days a year and are allowed to carry any unused days from year to year. There are about 15 million unused sick days currently banked, all of which would have disappeared under the Conservatives’ plan.

Getting rid of the sick leave banks, once estimated as a $4-billion liability, and hiring an insurance company to bring in case management for sick employees were seen as big sources of savings for the previous Conservative government.

Photo by Sean Kilpatrick / Canadian Press

Treasury Board president Scott Brison said his government promised to restore respect for the public service by negotiating in “good faith” and is pleased another tentative deal was reached.