Collections Calls are not Legitimate

We have become aware that a PIPSC member and other public servants have recently received calls from someone identifying themselves as a collection agency. The caller says they are collecting Phoenix payments on behalf of the government. These calls are not legitimate.

Government not using collection agencies

The government has confirmed they are not using collection agencies to collect payments related to Phoenix. Please read their posting on the matter.

http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/comm/index-eng.html

If you receive a suspicious call from an agency claiming that you need to repay an overpayment, do not provide personal information such as your address, credit card or bank account number and do not make payment arrangements with this agency. If the fraudulent agency contacts you, please report it to your local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (Report an incident Section) http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/reportincident-signalerincident/index-eng.htm and discuss it with your departmental security officer, who will guide and advise you on how to protect your personal information.

Attention News/Assignment Editors

MEDIA ADVISORY (Photo Opportunity)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, October 28, 2016 – As Monday, October 31 marks the government own deadline to finally fix the problems plaguing the Phoenix pay system’s, public service employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Canadian Association of Professional Employees and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) will rally in downtown Ottawa to pressure officials into repairing the system once and for all.

"The government set its own October 31 deadline to eliminate the backlog of cases prior to June 1, but we still don’t know if public servants should expect a “trick” or a “treat” Monday. Our patience is wearing thin", worries PIPSC President Daviau.

“This is a problem that should already be mouldering in the grave,” said Jessica Squires, Chair of CAPE’s Mobilization Committee. “It’s unacceptable that there are public servants out there that are still not getting paid for the important work they perform on behalf of Canadians.”

PIPSC President Debi Daviau, PSAC President Robyn Benson and CAPE Mobilization Committee Chair Jessica Squires will address participants and will be available to the media to discuss the ongoing failure of the Phoenix pay system.

Event: Halloween Rally - Haunted by Phoenix!

Location: Elgin and Wellington (in front of the Prime Minister's Office)

Date: Monday, October 31st, 2016

Time: 12:00 pm (noon)

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For further information:
Pierre Lebel, Communications, CAPE, (613) 236-9181 (cell.) or (613) 889-1027,
plebel@acep-cape.ca
Alroy Fonseca, Communications, PSAC NCR, (613)262-3658
fonseca@psac.com
Johanne Fillion, PIPSC, (613) 228-6310 ext 4953 or (613) 883-4900 (cell.),
jfillion@pipsc.ca

This month the Treasury Board announced the opening of a claims office to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses public servants have incurred due to problems with the Phoenix pay system.

Claim forms and Frequently Asked Questions are available on the Treasury Board website, as well as other Phoenix-related information.

NEW DEVELOPMENT

It has come to our attention that Departments are asking claimants to sign a release form which could affect their future right to grieve in relation to out-of-pocket expenses. Members should be advised that the release form should be signed only where they are satisfied that the agreed upon amount reflects the entire claim of the member relating to out-of-pocket expenses.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please call your regional office to speak to one of our Employment Relations Officers. PIPSC will work to file grievances if we are unhappy with the settlements offered. We will continue to raise issues, such as this form, in forums such as the joint union-management committee on Phoenix.

Dear National Capital Region members,

Monday October 31st isn’t just Halloween, it’s the day the government promised to finally fix the Phoenix pay system’s bagful of problems.

Unfortunately, it looks like that’s not going to happen after all, so join us for a rally in downtown Ottawa this Monday October 31st to remind the government that we’re Ready to be paid on time, every time!

We’ll be joined by our public service colleagues from other bargaining agents, including PSAC and CAPE. And in the spirit of Halloween, the Phoenix itself will be there! Wear your Ready buttons - seriously good fun for all!

When: Monday, October 31 at noon

Where: Elgin and Wellington (in front of the Prime Minister's Office)

Who: All PIPSC members are welcome

For more information, contact your local steward, email us at bettertogether@pipsc.ca, or Follow us on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

Better Together!

Debi Daviau
President

PIPSC is happy to announce that the Institute has been selected to take part in the Government of Canada’s independent review of Shared Services Canada, as a representative on Gartner Canada Co.’s panel of information technology (IT) experts. We will be sure to bring forward a message that Shared Services Canada needs both a plan and proper resources if it is to succeed. We also know that government decisions to outsource IT transformation projects have led to cost over-runs and in many cases catastrophic results.

Shared Services Canada is also undertaking a separate consultation and asking public servants from both within the department and outside it to respond. We encourage you to take the time to respond and share your views.

MEDIA ADVISORY :For Immediate Release

OTTAWA, October 5, 2016 - Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) President Debi Daviau will be available for media interviews following today’s technical briefing on the Phoenix pay system.

"With the government’s October 31^st deadline to fix the Phoenix system’s ongoing problems fast approaching, we want to make sure it is making every effort to resolve the situation once and for all," said Daviau.

PIPSC represents some 55,000 public-sector scientists and other professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc)

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For further information:
Johanne Fillion
(613) 228-6310 ext 4953 (office)
or (613) 883-4900 (cell.)
jfillion@pipsc.ca

The Treasury Board has announced that a claims office will open this week to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses public servants have incurred due to problems with the Phoenix pay system.

"I'm glad that our advocacy has resulted in real action," said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. "Some of our members have had to go into debt just to make ends meet. Hard working public service professionals should not be paying the price for the failure of the new pay system.”

Daviau first wrote to the Hon. Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, earlier this summer asking that a system of reimbursement be set up to compensate public servants financially hit by the disastrous Phoenix pay system. She reiterated this demand in August when she appeared before the parliamentary committee studying the problems with the pay system.

What we know to date is that the claims office is designed to reimburse people as quickly as possible and departments will have the authority to pay any claims under $500. Larger and more complex claims will go to the Treasury Board to be settled.

Claim forms and Frequently Asked Questions are available on the Treasury Board website, as well other Phoenix-related information. PIPSC will work to file grievances if we are unhappy with the settlements offered. PIPSC will remain vigilant to ensure this claims office meets members’ needs and will use forums such as the new joint union-management committee on Phoenix to raise concerns.

We will keep members posted on further details of the claims office as they become available.

"We will continue to work together to find solutions and get our members the help and protections they deserve," said Daviau.

Dear Members,

As we near the six-month anniversary of the ill-fated phase-in of the new Phoenix pay system, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the work we have been doing to help individuals affected by pay problems and to find collective solutions to the situation we continue to find ourselves in.

As your President, I am committed to exploring every way possible to pressure the government for solutions and to help those faced with hardship due to the Phoenix pay system. Since my last update, I have met several times with senior members of the Treasury Board and Public Services and Procurement Canada. I also met recently with both Treasury Board President Scott Brison and PSPC Minister Judy Foote. These were productive meetings but we nevertheless will continue to find ways to pressure the government into finding short and long term solutions.

We are still escalating critical cases to the Treasury Board and department heads and, as mentioned previously, urge that you contact your regional office to notify one of our Employment Relations Officers if you are experiencing any problems with your pay.

I would particularly like to take this opportunity to highlight for you a joint effort we have undertaken with other federal public sector unions to demand action on a number of key problems.

Collectively, we have raised serious concerns with affected members’ access to the Public Service Health Care Plan, including delayed access, inability to make amendments, and issues when leaving or on leave from the public service. We also reiterated our serious concern about the impacts to members on Long Term Disability. And, to mention only a few other issues, we raised the flag when it came to problems processing new hires, leaves (e.g., parental or maternity), pension deductions, salary adjustments, allowances, acting pay, return to work, overtime, department changes, union leave, taxation errors and, in general, inaccuracies on pay slips. The issue of problems with security clearances and credit rating problems due to Phoenix is another issue of concern to us.

We are also pleased to report that after much pressure from PIPSC and other unions, the Treasury Board will be opening a claims office where public servants can file requests for compensation for out-of-pocket expenses. As indicated by Deputy Minister Marie Lemay in her September 7 update, we hope to see the office up and running within the week.

It goes without saying that again I offer my deepest gratitude to our hardworking PIPSC stewards, consultation representatives, elected officials and staff that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help members navigate a cumbersome process, get help and, ultimately, solve their pay issues.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau
President

This month Canadian university, college and high school students return to classes, many of them to pursue studies towards a profession. Some of these students worked for the federal government over the summer, and like many other federal public service employees were seriously impacted by the problems afflicting the Phoenix pay system.

Early last month, PIPSC offered its assistance to these students, providing guidance on accessing support from the Miramichi pay centre and even passing along to Treasury Board and other senior officials especially urgent cases we felt the government should expedite. As the month rolled on and no lasting solution to either members’ or students’ pay problems appeared evident, we continued to apply pressure to the government, especially as the end-of-August deadline for student tuition payments loomed.

On August 25, we wrote to Public Services and Procurement Canada, following Deputy Minister Marie Lemay’s then-most recent report on efforts taken to address Phoenix pay problems, and asked for details on the ministry’s progress dealing with student pay problems. We were informed that, as of August 24, 90% of student cases had been resolved and that by September 7 the remaining 10% would be settled.

We are very proud to have provided some small help to those students who have suffered as a result of the problems with the Phoenix pay system and hope that their experience has not soured them on hopes and ambitions of eventually pursuing a career in the federal public service.

We express our solidarity with these students and our very best wishes for their success in the coming year. We also of course express our hope that the federal government will soon recognize the lesson to be learned from outsourcing and under-resourcing basic public and employment services.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau
President

 Phoenix makes international headlines