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An international labour federation is filing a formal complaint against the Conservative government for unilaterally giving itself the power to change the negotiated sick leave benefits of its employees.

Public Service International and the Canadian Labour Congress are expected to file the complaint Thursday with the Geneva-based International Labour Organization (ILO) on behalf of the 18 unions representing Canada’s public servants.

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The complaint is aimed at the provisions of the Conservatives’ latest omnibus budget bill, C-59, which overrode existing labour legislation to allow the government to impose new terms and conditions for the sick leave benefits.

The Association of Canadian Financial Officers, which represents finance officers working in government, drafted the complaint and asked the two labour organizations to jointly file it.

“Quite frankly, we’re frustrated that it has come to this,” said ACFO President Milt Isaacs. “The fact we’ve had to look internationally for support speaks to just how punitive the actions taken against public servants have been. This is an erosion of our most basic rights.”