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The complaints are the first salvo in what is expected to be a tense round of collective bargaining since the Conservatives introduced sweeping new rules in 2013 that blunt the unions’ bargaining clout. Unions argue that enforcing the government’s duty to bargain in good faith is one of the few tools left in their arsenal since the government changed the rules.

“Our position has remained consistent, we will work with the bargaining agents, at the negotiating table, to reach an agreement that is fair and reasonable to both taxpayers and employees,” said Treasury Board President Tony Clement, whose department is negotiating the new deal.

“We hope to see the PSLRB interpret the legal concept of good faith in an outcome that is equitable to all parties.”

The unions have complained for months that the government has presented the short-term disability plan as a fait accompli and only details like the number of sick days remain to be negotiated at the table.

They complained about communiqués posted on websites, letters sent directly to employees in May and then the “consultations” that Treasury Board recently invited unions to attend to help design details of the plan before it seeks bids from the insurance industry to manage it.

Clement further inflamed unions this week — in the midst of contract talks with PSAC — when he said unions “spurned” his “olive branch” by rejecting his invitation to the consultations.

“The (government’s) messages have all been extensions of the same theme: ‘There is no point in discussing sick leave because our mind is made up,’ ” said Ron Cochrane, co-chair of the labour — management National Joint Council.