Ottawa, October 1, 2026 - The Association of Justice Counsel (AJC), representing more than 3,500 federal lawyers and prosecutors, notaries and articling students, is preparing for the next round of collective bargaining, with its Negotiating Committee set to begin negotiations with the employer.

Throughout the summer, the Negotiating Committee, staff and negotiators worked to develop bargaining priorities and proposals. Initial bargaining sessions with the employer were planned for October. The parties will now meet in early December to exchange proposals, while the Negotiating Committee will use the previously announced October dates to continue its work and prepare for the December bargaining sessions.

The proposals now being finalized reflect the priorities shared by AJC members. They are grounded in the union’s understanding of the LP membership and will be supported by strong comparator data groups.

To prepare for a successful round of negotiations, the AJC has also made a disclosure request to the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), seeking relevant workforce and workplace information to support the bargaining process, some of which is still outstanding. The requested information and data will also help the bargaining team further strengthen the evidence it brings to the table on behalf of members.

In parallel, the Negotiating Committee is continuing its analysis of the various issues affecting the LP group, including differences across LP levels and the nature of the work performed by members.

The AJC’s focus is on using this time wisely and effectively. Collective bargaining can take time. There is no fixed timeline, and the length of negotiations depends on the issues being discussed and the progress made at the table. Multiple bargaining sessions over several months are common before the parties reach a tentative agreement, and mediation or dispute resolution through arbitration may become necessary.

Stand Together in Bargaining

The support of LPs matters at the bargaining table. AJC members can show the employer that LPs are engaged and united by using the #TogetherInBargaining toolkit, including the virtual meeting background, campaign graphics and workplace posters.

ABOUT THE AJC

The Association of Justice Counsel (AJC) is the union defending Canada’s legal team. Our 3,500+ members are Federal Crown Counsel, notaries and articling students employed by the Government of Canada in the Department of Justice, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and in various federal agencies, tribunals and courts across Canada.

MEDIA CONTACT

The Communications Department 
Association of Justice Counsel 
300–2725 Queensview Drive 
Ottawa, ON, Canada 
K2B 0A1

Phone: (613) 798-9900 
Toll-Free: (866) 218-3310 
Fax: (613) 564-0606 
Email: admin@ajc-ajj.ca

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