Almost all PIPSC Members are entitled to disability benefits through their workplace disability plan.  More information on your specific plan can be found here.

Members should proactively communicate with their doctor, employer, and benefits provider to ensure benefits are not denied due to late filing.  It is important to respect the deadline to file, which is generally within a few weeks of, in the opinion of your doctor, you becoming unable to work due to your health.

Members are urged to keep their employer and benefits provider informed of their intention to file a claim -  even when paperwork is still coming together.

Members with a denied claim or who are unable to obtain information from their employer can contact pensionsbenefits@pipsc.ca for support.

PIPSC is deeply disappointed by Justice Jocelyne Gagné's decision to dismiss the motion to certify the Black Class Action lawsuit against the federal government. This landmark case, which sought to address decades of systemic discrimination against Black public servants, represented a critical opportunity to acknowledge historical wrongs and create meaningful change within our institutions.

The Federal Court's reasoning that the case "did not sufficiently meet the class action requirement" and that its scope "makes it unfit for a class procedure" fails to recognize the shared experiences of discrimination that have affected countless Black public servants. While the court acknowledges the "profoundly sad ongoing history of discrimination suffered by Black Canadians," this acknowledgment rings hollow without corresponding action.

“Systemic racism requires systemic solutions," said Din I. Kamaldin of the PIPSC Black Caucus. “By dismissing this class action, the court has placed additional barriers in the path of those seeking redress for decades of discrimination.”

"We stand in unwavering solidarity with the Black Class Action Secretariat and our Black members," said Sean O'Reilly, President of PIPSC. "This decision is not the end of the fight but rather a moment that strengthens our resolve to pursue justice through all available channels."

PIPSC calls on the federal government to demonstrate genuine commitment to addressing systemic racism by engaging directly with the Black Class Action Secretariat and implementing the changes they have proposed, including:

1. Creation of a Black Equity Commission to investigate challenges, implement solutions, and hold government entities accountable for discrimination.
2. A compensation fund to address psychological trauma and financial losses suffered by Black public servants over the past 50 years.
3. Implementing concrete measures to eliminate barriers to hiring and promotion for Black public servants

The pursuit of justice and equity in our public service must continue, regardless of this setback.

For more information on how to support this ongoing fight for justice, please visit www.blackclassaction.ca.

To all federal public service workers in the United States, particularly those in science and research:

PIPSC expresses our unwavering solidarity with you during these deeply challenging times. As the largest public service union in Canada representing federal scientists, we stand alongside all of you as you face unprecedented attacks on your work, your well-being, and the very foundations of scientific integrity.

We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks on science and research initiated by the Trump administration and its policies. From freezing billions of dollars in critical federal research funding to censoring research on topics such as climate change and gender, and firing thousands of public sector employees in national agencies that rely on scientific research to protect public health, the environment, and national security. This includes the Centre for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Archives, museums and libraries across the US. 

These actions aren’t just an assault on the science and research community but on the fundamental values of democracy itself. Science and research provide the bedrock upon which we base our understanding of the world, solve critical problems, and shape policy to advance and safeguard the public good. 

It must be free from political interference. 

In Canada, we don't have to look far into the past to see how our own government attacked federal science and research here. Under the Harper Conservatives, scientific programs vital to the health of Canada's environment and oceans were gutted or eliminated, thousands of federal scientists (including PIPSC members) were fired while others, specifically those researching climate change and other politically sensitive topics, were systematically muzzled. 

Canadians now face a candidate vying for the role of Prime Minister who not only supported these attacks on Canadian research and science but was a central figure in the administration that carried them out. Furthermore, this candidate has pledged that, if elected Prime Minister, he will cut over 100,000 federal public service jobs.

Public services, scientific integrity, and the good jobs that sustain them are under attack from multiple fronts. It's crucial for members of these communities and their unions to speak out and stand up in defense. 

We stand with our fellow American public service professionals in the fight to protect these agencies, defend the autonomy of all science, research and knowledge-based institutions, and demand that they remain adequately funded and prioritized for the public good.

Canada’s professional public service is the foundation on which all responses and programs to the tariff war will be built. Public servants' commitment to Canadians is unwavering. They will develop responses to foreign pressure, set up programs to support those hurt economically, and continue to deliver the critical services that Canadians rely on. 

PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly urges the government to continue to support Canadians by redeveloping its procurement strategy, ensuring that we buy Canadian, invest Canadian, and build Canadian. We can’t do that without a strong public service. 

By investing in our public service, the government is investing in Canada.

Read our open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada.

This open letter from President O'Reilly was originally published in the National Newswatch last month.

As Canada navigates a 30 day delay on a potential trade war with retaliatory tariffs, we find ourselves in a position of stunning contradiction. After threatening to impose tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods, we continue to send billions of Canadian tax dollars south through federal outsourcing contracts to the very nation challenging our economic sovereignty.

The scale of this contradiction is staggering. In the midst of developing emergency support programs for Canadian industries affected by these tariffs, we're simultaneously paying premium rates to American consulting giants for work that could be done by Canadian public servants. Major U.S. firms like IBM consistently rank among the top five recipients of government IT contracts. At the same time, McKinsey & Company has been awarded hundreds of million of contracts over the last two decades – 70% of which were never put to tender. Data from the Parliamentary Budget Officer shows these outsourced contracts typically cost Canadian taxpayers 25% more than if the same work were performed by public service professionals – a premium that becomes even more questionable as we brace for economic turbulence.

The timing of this trade dispute brings into sharp focus the critical role of public service expertise. As the Department of Finance opens its remissions process for businesses affected by the trade war, it will be public servants who design and implement these crucial support programs. Yet paradoxically, we continue to hollow out our internal capacity by outsourcing core government functions to foreign companies.

The pandemic response demonstrated the irreplaceable value of our public service. When crises struck, it was public service professionals who developed testing protocols, managed vaccine procurement, and created and delivered the CERB program that supported millions of Canadians. Now, as we face potential economic disruption from tariffs that could shrink GDP by up to 5.6% and increase unemployment by 3%, we need these same professionals to analyze impacts, design mitigation strategies, and protect Canadian interests.

Consider the current situation: while provincial governments moved to remove American products from liquor stores and modify procurement practices with U.S. companies, federal procurement continues to favor American consulting giants. This creates a dangerous dependency at precisely the moment when we need to maximize our economic sovereignty and response capability.

Most troubling is how this outsourcing steadily drains Canadian knowledge and expertise southward to American firms. When we outsource government functions, we don't just lose money – we lose vital expertise and institutional memory. Critical information about government operations, security protocols, and strategic planning flows south alongside Canadian tax dollars. This creates vulnerabilities that extend far beyond immediate financial costs, potentially hampering our ability to respond to future crises independently.

The Fall Economic Statement announced $1.3 billion for enhanced border security, recognizing the need for stronger Canadian capabilities. That border package was further bolstered this month to meet Trump's latest demands – delaying the tariffs. Yet we continue to undermine these investments by outsourcing critical IT and operational functions to foreign firms. This isn't just about software development or system maintenance – it's about maintaining control over the digital infrastructure that powers our government's ability to respond to crises.

Canada needs a fundamental shift in how we approach government procurement and capacity building. We must  repatriate essential government functions to our public service, particularly in areas critical to national security and economic sovereignty. This isn't about protectionism – it's about peace, order, and good government. A strong, professional public service isn't just an administrative necessity; it's a strategic asset in maintaining Canadian independence and resilience.

The current trade tensions offer an opportunity to reassess our procurement strategies and investment in public service capacity. As we prepare to weather economic headwinds, we must ensure we're not undermining ourselves from within. It's time to invest in our public service, build Canadian capability, and ensure our nation's foundation remains strong, regardless of what economic storms may come.

It defies logic to fight a trade war with one hand while writing cheques to American consultants with the other. Canada needs a public service that answers to Canadians, not US shareholders. In this moment of economic uncertainty, the latter isn't just preferable – it's essential for our national resilience.

Sean O'Reilly 

President

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) 

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 27, 2025 — For nine years, the Phoenix Pay System has stood as a stark warning about the true costs of outsourcing critical government services. What began as a $5.8 million contract with IBM has now ballooned to over $650 million through more than 50 contract amendments - all while failing to deliver its basic function of paying public servants correctly and on time.

As a result, workers are going into debt as a result of ongoing financial insecurity and years of incorrect and unpredictable pay. Their futures are being impacted as their credit scores plummet – some have even lost their homes. Pay errors are also repeatedly reported on T4 and other financial reports, causing difficulties with the CRA and provincial tax agencies, tangling the web even further.

"The government's obsession with outsourcing has created a costly spiral of failure," said the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) President, Sean O’Reilly. "After spending hundreds of millions on IBM for Phoenix, we're now watching history repeat itself by once again choosing costly outsourcing for the new pay system, instead of leveraging in-house expertise.”

“Meanwhile, nearly 300,000 pay transactions remain unprocessed, and that number is only rising.” he continued. “With two-thirds of these cases being over a year old. This is not value for money - this is throwing good money after bad."

The mounting costs extend far beyond direct contracts. The 2024 budget includes another $135 million investment for HR improvements and the next generation pay system. This is on top of the $517 million allocated in 2023 and $521 million in 2024 just to maintain staffing at the Pay Centre to handle the ongoing backlog. The government has also spent millions more on consultants, including $27.7 million to McKinsey to "help improve" a system that fundamentally doesn't work.

"Public servants deliver essential services that Canadians rely on every day, yet for nine years, they've been fighting just to receive their basic pay," noted the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) President, Nathan Prier. "From day one, we warned about the risks of outsourcing such a critical system. A rush to find the cheapest option has now cost Canadians more than $3.5 billion and counting. We urged consultation and stressed the importance of maintaining internal expertise. Instead, the government eliminated 1,200 experienced pay advisor positions and replaced them with 550 positions at a centralized location.”

“The results speak for themselves,” he continued. “Thirty percent of public servants continue to experience errors in their basic pay, and thousands wait years for proper processing of promotions, transfers, and retirement benefits. We are long overdue for a renewed damages agreement to compensate our members, which the Treasury Board has been promising but intentionally stalling."

The Phoenix Pay System demonstrates what happens when governments prioritize outsourcing over investing in their own workforce. Public servants have the expertise, dedication, and understanding of complex government operations that external contractors simply cannot match. After nine years and billions of wasted taxpayer dollars, it's time for the government to recognize that strong public services require investment in public servants, not an endless cycle of expensive external contracts that fail to deliver.

About CAPE

With more than 25,000 members, the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) is one of the largest federal public sector unions in Canada, dedicated to advocating on behalf of federal employees in the Economics and Social Science Services (EC) and Translation (TR) groups, as well as employees of the Library of Parliament (LoP), the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (OPBO) and civilian members of the RCMP (ESS and TRL).

About PIPSC

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) was founded in 1920.  With over 75,000 members, the Institute is the largest union in Canada representing scientists and professionals employed at the federal and some provincial and territorial levels of government.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), Media@acep-cape.ca

Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), jfillion@pipsc.ca

Ottawa, February 11, 2025 – On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is highlighting persistent barriers faced by women scientists in federal research positions, particularly in fieldwork settings. The union–which represents over 20,000 scientists and researchers in the federal public service––has released a new report titled Gender Equity in Fieldwork: A Guide for Employees and Managers. 

The report's findings show that most science-based departments and agencies (SBDAs) lack clear policies or guidelines to ensure the health and safety of women and gender minorities in field research settings. This leaves researchers to navigate challenges alone, often relying on informal networks rather than institutional support.

"Every day, thousands of brilliant women scientists across Canada's public service are advancing critical research that shapes our nation's future," said PIPSC President Sean O'Reilly. "Yet they continue to face systemic barriers that limit their full participation in scientific fieldwork."

"This research confirms what we’ve been hearing from our members about deeply troubling safety concerns in field settings," Sadichchha Pokharel, PIPSC Research Officer noted. "These are not mere inconveniences—they are systemic barriers that can derail careers and diminish valuable scientific contributions."

The release of this report comes at a critical time, as women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields. Currently, women make up less than 30% of workers in Canadian STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) occupations.

PIPSC is calling for immediate action to address these challenges. The organization advocates for the development of comprehensive fieldwork safety policies and the implementation of proper infrastructure and facilities at research sites. Additionally, PIPSC emphasizes the need for enhanced support systems for women and gender minorities in field research positions, along with regular monitoring and evaluation of gender equity measures.

"This isn't just about equality – it's about enriching the Canadian scientific community with diverse perspectives and talents,” said O’Reilly. “When we exclude women from fieldwork, we diminish the quality of global science."

PIPSC represents over 75,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram.

-30-

For more information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca

As part of PIPSC's ongoing commitment to advancing public sector science, the union has released a comprehensive new report examining gender equity challenges in scientific fieldwork. Gender Equity in Fieldwork: A Guide for Employees and Managers provides vital guidance for employees and managers working to create more inclusive research environments.

"Every day, thousands of brilliant women scientists across Canada's public service are advancing critical research that shapes our nation's future," notes PIPSC President Sean O'Reilly. "Yet they continue to face systemic barriers that limit their full participation in scientific fieldwork."

The report draws on the experiences of women and non-binary federal researchers to document challenges ranging from inadequate infrastructure to serious safety concerns. It provides practical solutions and best practices to address these long-standing issues.

This guide is for everyone in public sector science. It serves both researchers facing barriers in their work and those in positions to implement positive change. We particularly encourage managers and senior leadership to engage with these findings and recommendations.

The report recognizes that women scientists are not a monolithic group. Our analysis includes the experiences of racialized women, Indigenous women, non-binary people, transgender women, women with disabilities, LGBTQI2S+ people, and women experiencing any other system or form of oppression. When we say women, we mean all women.

Each section of the report examines specific challenges in fieldwork settings and provides concrete tools for creating more equitable and safe research environments. The recommendations are practical, implementable, and designed to create lasting change.

View the full report in PDF

View the full report in HTML

As the US government moves forward with harmful tariffs on Canadian goods, we at ACFO, CAPE and PIPSC stand united in condemning these measures and their devastating impact on Canadian jobs, families, and businesses. These tariffs threaten economic stability and labour. We will not stand by as working people bear the burden.

At a time when Canadians are facing unprecedented challenges—whether it’s rising costs of living, housing shortages, or ongoing economic uncertainty—these tariffs will only make life harder for families, workers, and communities across the country. The people of Canada are already feeling the strain. Adding additional barriers to trade only exacerbates the hardships many are already enduring.

We stand in solidarity with trade unions and all workers affected by these tariffs. Our members, dedicated public service professionals, are always ready to assist Canadians, support affected industries and communities, and deliver any relief measures the federal government enacts. 

ACFO, CAPE and PIPSC members, and all federal public sector workers, have a long history of stepping up in times of crisis—whether during the COVID-19 pandemic or other national challenges. This moment is no different. Our members will continue to deliver the critical programs and services Canadians rely on, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Now is the time for unity, solidarity and strength.
___________________________

Sean O’Reilly – President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
Rob Hawkins - President, Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO) 
Nathan Prier – President, Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)