The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) demands a halt to the Treasury Board’s plans to mandate employees back to the office.
On Thursday, the Treasury Board announced plans to roll out a one-size-fits-all approach to return federal public servants to their offices for 2-3 days per week starting in January. This news comes despite previous commitments to continue consulting with unions and implement tailored plans for each department, and despite the triple threat of influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus filling up emergency rooms across the country.
“For over 2 years we’ve been saying that any return to office plan must have purpose, and prioritize employee productivity as well their health and safety. This plan has none of that: it’s poorly thought out, punitive and makes no sense whatsoever – and we’re not going to compromise on health and safety ” said PIPSC President Jennifer Carr.
“Today’s announcement is the total opposite of what the Treasury Board has been promising: a hybrid-by-design approach that takes into account the unique circumstances of federal public servants. They have completely ignored the design part and have instead chosen to bulldoze through a bad plan that sets themselves up for an unnecessary fight.”
Thousands of PIPSC members have already started bargaining their next collective agreements with the Treasury Board, where telework is on the table. “This doesn’t set the stage for good faith negotiations with the employer. With the holidays around the corner, the timing of this announcement also adds insult to injury."
PIPSC has been following the issue closely and continuing to solicit feedback from members on any return to workplace plan.
“Our members have proven throughout the past two-and-a-half years that they can and will continue to be productive and engaged no matter where they work from,” said Carr. “Public service professionals have gone above and beyond to deliver quality services to Canadians. Is this how the government thanks them for their commitment and hard work?”
PIPSC is continuing to advocate for safe, flexible return to workplace policies for all members. Members that are required to return to the workplace and have concerns should visit our website for more information on the options available to them.
With the triple threat of influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) filling emergency rooms and childrens’ hospitals throughout the country, PIPSC is reminding the Treasury Board to prioritize the health and safety of its workers.
Last week, the Ottawa Citizen and Policy Options reported on plans to roll out a “one-size-fits-all” approach to return federal public servants to their offices. This news came despite current public health concerns and previous commitments to continue consulting with unions and implement tailored plans for each department.
As one of the Treasury Board’s largest bargaining agents, we were surprised to hear rumours that the Treasury Board was potentially bulldozing ahead with a one-size-fits-all plan for returning our members to their workplaces. The speculation was that a mandate of 2–3 days of in-office work would be required for all federal public service employees.
The Treasury Board has since confirmed that no announcement is forthcoming. Nevertheless, it is concerning as it appears they were considering this approach and it is not clear what their longer term plans are.
PIPSC has been following the issue closely and continues to solicit feedback from members on what they would like to see in a return to workplace plan. They have also emphasized that any policy that forces them to attend work in-person for a prescribed number of days should have a clear purpose. Many PIPSC members are also concerned about their health and safety and that adequate space is not there to accommodate a mass back to work order.
In addition to health and safety concerns, remote work has been identified by our membership as a key issue to negotiate in the current and upcoming rounds of bargaining. PIPSC has proposals in respect of this issue, and fully expects the Treasury Board and other employers to engage in collective bargaining on the issue.
Our members have proven throughout the past two-and-a-half years that they can and will continue to be productive and engaged while working safely from home. PIPSC is continuing to advocate for safe, flexible return to workplace policies for all members.
Members who are required to return to the workplace and who have concerns, should visit this webpage for more information. Members with workplace-specific concerns should connect with a steward and/or their workplace health and safety committee.
Ottawa, December 8, 2022 – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada – a union representing over 70,000 federal and provincial public sector workers – has launched billboards in key locations to urge the Ford government to respect frontline workers and repeal Bill 124. Locations include Sylvia Jones’ riding – the Health Minister who has championed Bill 124 in the face of widespread public opposition and now, a court ruling that finds the law unconstitutional.
The billboards went up in response to the November 29 ruling by the Ontario Superior Court striking down the legislation. The Court found that the Ford government’s bill capping wage and benefit increases for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, healthcare professionals and other public-sector workers at 1% was a “substantial infringement” on the collective bargaining rights guaranteed under the Charter of Rights.
“This is a decisive judgment from the Court”, said Jennifer Carr, President of PIPSC. “It represents a historic victory for public sector workers and reinforces that our rights to free and fair collective bargaining cannot simply be legislated away by governments that don’t want to negotiate or give their burned out frontline staff respectable wages.”
PIPSC, along with other unions and the Ontario Federation of Labour that together represent hundreds of thousands of members impacted by the unconstitutional law, are ramping up pressure on the Ford government in hopes of preventing them from appealing this landmark ruling.
“For too long, Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones have ignored the cries of overworked and underpaid healthcare professionals by bulldozing through Bill 124,” President Carr continued. “These billboards are a reminder that not only does the public stand behind frontline workers against this disrespectful, wage-slashing law – but now, so do the courts. Given the Court decision, the work frontline workers do to keep this province running, and the overwhelming support from Ontarians, the Ford government must forgo an appeal and repeal Bill 124. ”
PIPSC represents over 70,000 members across Canada. In Ontario, PIPSC represents hundreds of healthcare professionals working in cancer centres at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, the Walker Family Cancer Centre in Niagara, the Windsor Regional Hospital and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. PIPSC also represents medical physicists throughout Ontario and IT professionals at the University of Ottawa that are impacted by Bill 124.
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For more information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca
On November 29, 2022 Treasury Board President Mona Fortier announced the appointment of an expert panel to review the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA).
PIPSC welcomes the review and has long called for improvements to the existing legislation. We had previously submitted our comments on updating the PSDPA to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in February 2017 - it has certainly taken a great deal of time for the government to move forward on this critical matter.
Canadians rely on the services provided daily by our members to make their lives safer, healthier and more prosperous. While rare, the disclosure of wrongdoing must also be considered a service to our fellow citizens. When a public service professional has tried every other avenue to resolve a significant problem, only to have their concerns dismissed by higher-level authorities, they are acting with integrity, honesty and in line with their dedication to protecting and serving the public good.
Sadly, for many of our members, whistleblowing has also meant endangering or sacrificing their career for the sake of the public interest. It shouldn't be that way. We need to ensure insurmountable barriers are not put in the way of these courageous and ethical public service professionals.
We are also very proud that PIPSC Director of Labour Relations David Yazbeck has been appointed to the panel. David brings decades of labour law experience and an in-depth knowledge of the issues to the table and we are very pleased that he has been recognized as a true subject matter expert by the government.
We look forward to engaging with the panel to review the legislation towards the implementation of recommendations that will not only protect whistleblowers when they come forward, but the interests of the Canadian public at large.
Ottawa, November 28, 2022 – In legislation introduced on November 24, the Blaine Higgs Conservative government is taking aim at public service workers and their rights to fair collective bargaining and to take job action. This bill enshrines unfair rules around job action notice, gives the government the ability to bring in non-unionized scab workers and more power to change the work schedules of essential workers.
“This legislation is a direct attack on public service workers,” said Jennifer Carr, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). “These are the folks who have worked tirelessly to provide critical services to the people of New Brunswick, particularly over the last few years through the pandemic.”
This legislation comes just weeks after Ontario Conservative Premier Doug Ford pushed through and then quickly repealed controversial and constitutionally-questionable legislation in Ontario. Bill 28 attempted to erase the hard-won labour rights of CUPE education workers and to force them to accept an unfair deal.
“Conservative governments across the country are taking aim at the constitutional rights of workers, and they are starting with their employees in the public service. We know that any attack on one group of workers’ rights is a signal that more are coming,” said Carr. “We must stand up and speak up against this legislation, and push the government to abandon this anti-worker agenda.”
In New Brunswick, PIPSC represents Crown Prosecutors, Crown Counsel, Legal Aid Services employees, agrologists and agronomists, engineers, architects and land surveyors, as well as veterinarians and veterinary pathologists.
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For more information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca
Legacy Foundation Scholarship Program
Delegates viewed a video update on the Institute’s Legacy Foundation, including brief profiles of this year’s scholarship laureates.
For more than 20 years, the Institute has been raising money to help kids all across the country. We’ve enabled kids to fulfill their dreams, we’ve funded life-changing resources for child amputees, and, most of all, we’ve funded scholarships for deserving kids.
This year we awarded 35 scholarships worth a total of $55,000.
To date, we’ve awarded $1,105,000 in scholarships to 577 students.
Our scholarships are funded by the generous contributions of individual members, constituent bodies, and by corporate sponsors.
You can help us support a new generation of young professionals and make a difference in their lives.
$1,500 scholarship sponsored by the Information Technology Group
$1,500 scholarship
$1,000 scholarships
$5,000 scholarship
$1,500 scholarships
$1,500 scholarships
Honouring the Stewards of the Year
The “Steward of the Year” award acknowledges those who have gone “above and beyond” their duties to assist members and who have made extraordinary contributions to the Institute.
The 2020 and 2021 Stewards of the Year addressed the AGM delegates on video.
The 2022 stewards addressed the AGM delegates, and President Jenn Carr presented trophies to them. President Carr also presented to the AGM the first ever National Chief Steward: Judith LeBlanc.
National Chief Steward
Regional Directors introduced their 2022 Stewards of the Year.
2022 Stewards of the Year
Atlantic Region: Tony Chubbs (SP)
Québec Region: Karine Régimbald (SH)
National Capital Region: Fred Jamieson (CFIA-S&A)
Prairie/NWT Region: Kevin Jacobs (SP)
B.C./Yukon Region: Phil Johnson (SH)