What is a federal public service employee?

According to the Public Service Labour Relations Act , Her Majesty in right of Canada is the employer of all federal public service employees.  However, Her Majesty can be represented by either Treasury Board or by a separate employer.

Treasury Board employees are specified in Schedules I and IV of the Financial Administration Act .  They work for government departments and "other portions of the public service."  These other portions include a variety of organizations such as the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal, the Canadian Space Agency, the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Staff of the Supreme Court.  Treasury Board employees are represented in negotiations by their teams at Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 5.

Separate employers are set out in Schedule V of the Financial Administration Act .  They include the Canada Revenue Agency, the Communications Security Establishment, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and the Staff of the Non-Public Funds.  Some of these separate employers have been established under specific legislation that gives them addition powers related to employees, such as staffing.  Separate employers each have their own bargaining unit.