On February 26^th, the Canadian Labour Congress brought labour leaders from coast to coast to Ottawa to meet with federal MPs and Senators. Over 350 activists, including PIPSC members, pushed officials hard for a pharmacare plan and in support of better pension protection for workers and pensioners when companies go bankrupt. It was the largest day of lobbying in CLC’s history, with a total of 354 participants in 194 meetings. 

Canada is the only industrialized country in the world with universal healthcare that does not include medications.

Today, 3.5 million Canadians can’t afford to fill their prescriptions. From birth control to insulin, one third of Canadians do not have coverage through their work and are left to pay out of pocket.

Canada’s unions are working to win a universal prescription drug plan that covers everyone in Canada, regardless of their income, age or where they work or live.

All Canadians will benefit from increased accessibility to medications as well as the cost-savings of coordinating bulk purchasing. Did you know, in New Zealand, where a public authority negotiates on behalf of the entire country, a year’s supply of the cholesterol-busting drug Lipitor costs just $15 a year, compared to $811 in Canada? Pharmacare makes good economic sense.

91% of Canadians believe our public health care system should include a universal prescription drug plan. Together we can build it. Add your voice to the call for a universal prescription drug plan for all Canadians.

SIGN THE PETITION

When it comes to pensions, governments can and must put workers and pensioners first.  Bankruptcy laws must be changed so that workers and pensioners are first in line, not last, when it comes to paying creditors.  The federal government must give workers’ pensions and benefits super-priority status, so that they are paid out of the remaining assets before other creditors (like banks, financial lenders and debt holders).

Over 60 participants traveled from across Canada to learn, share ideas and plan for increased engagement among PIPSC young professionals.

These activists have built concrete plans to roll out the Do Better campaign on the ground at the regional level. There is no doubt this work will build member engagement and demonstrate solidarity at the bargaining table.

Join them by learning more or getting involved in the campaign:

DO BETTER

Participants also gained insights from keynote speaker David Colette, CEO and co-founder of Abacus data. He shared cutting-edge analysis on the views and behaviours of Millennials and how they are impacting today’s workforce.

Other informative panels focused on capacity building, effective organizing strategies, lessons learned from successful movements, and tools for membership engagement.

If you’re a young worker looking to get involved in PIPSC member outreach activities, contact our mobilization team: bettertogether@pipsc.ca.

The news this week that it will take a further three to five years to clean up the Phoenix backlog, and 10 or more years to stabilize the system, makes it obvious that on the third anniversary of the launch of the Phoenix pay system we should be laser-focused on implementing its replacement as soon as possible.

But in order for that to happen the government needs to commit the funding now to ensure implementation of a new system will survive the uncertain outcomes of the next federal election.

That’s why this week I held a press conference, along with Vice President Stéphane Aubry, calling on the government to commit the funds needed in next month’s federal budget, the last scheduled before the election. If passed, it would help lock in plans to launch a new system sooner rather than later (or worse, not at all).

And make no mistake, when it comes to the current round of collective bargaining, ensuring our members have better pay protections is a key PIPSC priority.

If there’s one potential election issue affecting federal public servants that ought to be settled now, it’s that we deserve a pay system that works.

In order to Do Better than Phoenix, the government should be prepared to pay now, not later.

Better Together,

Debi Daviau
President

The Phoenix pay system failure has left public servants under paid, over paid or not paid at all. The procurement process for a new pay system is underway, but PIPSC members continue to deal with serious personal consequences.

Christine Kleindienst
Correctional Service Canada - Mission, BC

In April 2016, Christine was not paid. This continued for months and today she has still not received a correct paycheque. As a single mother, she relied on emergency advances which replaced only 60% of her earnings and so was forced to borrow money from family members to keep afloat.

Christine says, “this has been the most stressful time of my life.... this has caused tremendous stress emotionally, financially, and mentally to thousands of people and needs to end.”

François Marceau Innovation
Science and Economic Development Canada – Gatineau, QC

For years François has taken five weeks unpaid leave to spend with his children who live hours away from his home. The Phoenix failure has meant that he was unable to take this leave in 2018 and very likely will be unable in 2019. François has lost precious time with his children.

Laura Makokis
Health Canada - Saddle Lake, AB

Laura has worked for Health Canada for 32 years. Two years ago her pay dropped without explanation. After submitting a complaint her pay stubs were retroactively corrected but she has not received any of the $12,000 owed to her. Laura says, “any time we would phone Phoenix we were told that someone would be in touch after they submitted the complaint. Not once did I receive any communications from Phoenix regarding their mistake or if I would receive compensation for my lost wages.”

Julien Fabienne
Correctional Service Canada - Lavaltrie, QC

While on eight months of medical leave without pay, Julien continued to receive his full paycheque as a result of a Phoenix error. His record of employment was not issued and so he was unable to access Employment Insurance or his health benefits, after 30 months he has still not received these benefits. Despite having completed all of the appropriate paperwork, hours of time during his medical leave were spent on the phone in an effort to correct the issue.

For Julien, “the energy expended, the anxiety generated, the overwhelming feeling of frustration and helplessness, and the feeling of not being recognized by our employer during all the procedures that have been going on for 30 months now is nonsense and also generates strong feelings of anger, insecurity, abandonment, discouragement and disinvestment.”

On February 27, 2019, we encourage PIPSC members to take a stand against bullying by wearing pink. Bullying usually involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people. Bullying can result in serious emotional problems, including anxiety, low self-esteem, or depression, in addition to possible mental and physical traumas.

Stand up against bullying in all its forms and help protect your workplace each and every day by promoting respect, civility and diversity and inclusion.

Learn techniques to protect yourself against bullying. PIPSC has developed a practical Guide on Bullying and Violence in the Workplace.

If you experience or witness workplace bullying please report it to your steward.

Your steward is your first line of defense. Visit the website to find your steward and learn what they can do for you.

In solidarity,

Debi Daviau, President
Waheed Khan, Champion, Employment Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

OTTAWA, February 25, 2019 – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is marking the third anniversary of the Phoenix pay system failure with a National Week of Action. This week, members and union officials are organizing events across the country.

Phoenix has hit PIPSC members hard. The federal government must ensure that this is never repeated. Members deserve pay protections and PIPSC is bringing this issue to the bargaining table negotiation for language that provides pay protections and ensures that the Phoenix failure will not be replicated.

“We’re looking for pay protections in our new contracts and we’re expecting a strong funding commitment in the budget to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the new pay system,” says PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “After everything public servants have been through with Phoenix, I would certainly be very surprised if the federal government didn’t come through on these commitments.”

PIPSC is sending a clear message that the Phoenix failure has a personal face, and that face is their members. Members who are still forced to try to navigate a broken system to understand their pay stubs, back pay, repayment plans, to access promotions, change jobs or even to take sick leave.

PIPSC members will be available to speak to the personal hardship Phoenix has caused them.

Pushing on all fronts, PIPSC is organizing in the workplace, pushing at the bargaining table and laying our clear expectation for the federal budget. “We are pulling out all stops, our members need to see clear commitments from the federal government,” says President Daviau. “We work hard and we need our employer to do better.”

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

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

Attention News/Assignment Editors:

MEDIA ADVISORY 

OTTAWA, February 23, 2019 – Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) President Debi Daviau will hold a press conference Monday on Parliament Hill to mark the third anniversary of the Phoenix pay system.

President Daviau will speak on the PIPSC Week of Action and the series of demands that will go a long way to remedy the ongoing pay problems.

Members will be available to speak to the personal consequences of the Phoenix failure.

Date: Monday, February 25, 2019

Time: 10:30 AM

Place: 135-B Press Conference Room, West Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Speakers:

• Debi Daviau, President, PIPSC
• Stéphane Aubry, Vice-President, PIPSC

Teleconference: Media representatives wishing to participate via a teleconference may dial 1-866-797-9099 (toll-free) or 613-787-5142 (local). The Conference ID: 8705669 #.

Phoenix Week of Action event

Photo-op (cameras only):

Date: Monday, February 25, 2019

Time: 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Place: Place du Portage ‑ STO stop at 200 Portage, as well as various entry ways

President Debi Daviau, Vice-Presidents Stéphane Aubry and Steve Hindle will be available for photo opportunity. On site contact person: Shelley Melanson, 613-668-3334.

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

The Treasury Board’s proposals for the issues below (in no particular order) are summarized into two categories; a proposal to apply the provisions in the applicable PIPSC group collective agreement or a proposal that the issue is “For Discussion”. Where there are additions in the collective agreements that are not in the RCMP Terms & Conditions, the Treasury Board has proposed that the collective agreement will apply.   

APPLY THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT:

• Hours of Work
• Regular Time Off
• Meal Breaks
• Designated Paid Holidays
• Schedules and Shifts
• Rescheduling a Shift or RTO
• Extra Duty Pay
• Lieu Time
• Overtime
• Operational Response
• Call-back
• Court Duty
• Meal Breaks During OT or Outside a Scheduled Shift on a DPH
• Travel Time & Transportation
• Premiums – Designated Paid Holidays
• Premiums – Shifts
• Acting Pay
• Special Leave With Pay
• Compassionate/Personal Leave With Pay
• Family-Related Leave With Pay 
• Court Leave With Pay (Non-duty related)
• Education Leave Without Pay
• Spousal Relocation Leave Without Pay
• Care and Nurturing of Preschool Children
• Personal Needs Leave
• Maternity Leave Without Pay
• Parental Leave Without Pay
• Special Leave Without Pay
• Bilingualism Bonus
• Isolated Posts and Government Housing Allowance
• Educational Assistance and Education Allowance
• Maternity & Parental Allowance
• Severance Pay
• Commuting Assistance
• Relocation
• Workforce Adjustment
• Travel Directive
• Personnel Selection Leave With Pay
• Injury-on-duty Leave With Pay
• Reclassification and Statement of Duties
• Labour Disputes
• Safety and Health
• Technological Change
• Leave for Labour Relations Matters

FOR DISCUSSION:

• Sick Leave
• Annual Leave
• Funeral & Burial Entitlements
• Pre & Post Retirement Relocation
• Personal/Volunteer Leave
• Career Development
• Professional Development
• Pay & Duration

Ottawa, February 21, 2019 – The federal government needn’t worry about a consumer backlash to a sales tax on Canadians’ Netflix accounts, if newly released results from an Environics Research poll and a separate survey of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax professionals are any indication, says the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).

When asked if “E-commerce companies such as Netflix, Google, Amazon and Uber, should be subject to Canadian taxes for business carried out in Canada,” almost 8 out of 10 Canadians (77%) agreed, more than half of them (54%) strongly. Professionals at the CRA went further, with almost 9 out of 10 (87%) agreeing and almost 7 out of 10 (67%) strongly agreeing.

“It’s clear that Canadians, including our own CRA members, believe it’s only fair that foreign e-commerce giants who do business in Canada be taxed,” said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “In fact, it’s high time they were, and we hope the next federal budget includes measures to ensure they are.”

The findings are contained in a third and final report on tax fairness based on the two surveys. In addition to taxing e-commerce companies, the report, which examines the ways some companies have been avoiding taxes, recommends:

• Creating a publicly accessible “beneficial ownership” registry to curb the use of shell companies that redirect profits from one country to an offshore tax haven in another (Canada is particularly vulnerable to this practice, also known as “snow washing”), and
• Ending “profit shifting” – the strategic transfer of corporate profits from one country to another in order to minimize or eliminate paying taxes – a practice Canada and other member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development are seeking (if too slowly) to end.

Over 7 out of 10 (75%) of CRA tax professionals surveyed believe that federal and provincial governments should require corporations to publicly identify "beneficial ownership" relationships. And over two-thirds (71%) believe that Canadian rules related to setting up offshore corporations or tax accounts are too lenient and should be reformed.

The public opinion survey by Environics Research was commissioned by PIPSC and conducted by telephone among 1,000 Canadians between July 3 and 8, 2018. The results can be considered accurate + or – 3.2%, 19 times out of 20.

Invitations to participate in the CRA professional employees survey were sent to 11,599 members of the Audit, Financial and Scientific Group (AFS) between February 20 and March 6, 2018, of which 2,170 (18.7%) responded.

The full report on the survey results, titled Shell Game: How Off-Shore Havens, Tax Loopholes, and Federal Cost-Cutting Undermine Tax Fairness, can be read here.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents approximately 60,000 public service professionals across Canada, including nearly 12,000 auditors, managers, forensic accountants and other tax professionals at the CRA.

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Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

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