The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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A large group of RCMP Civilian Members have finally become unionized. 

The Federal Labour Board has granted PIPSC’s application to have nearly 1400 RCMP Civilian Members included our Treasury Board Groups. That means despite the delays in government’s plans, these RCMP Civilian Members will get access to the full benefits of union membership and PIPSC services.

“Being a PIPSC member empowers you to join the process of collective bargaining. It gives you a seat at the table. It allows you to directly advocate for yourself and your coworkers,” said PIPSC President Debi Daviau in a message to RCMP Civilian Members. “No individual can have much success in changing the practices of a big employer - but as a union we can, because we’re better together.”

PIPSC has already worked to ensure that the terms and conditions of employment for RCMP Civilian Members are protected until such time that their transition to existing collective agreements have been negotiated.

“Without a union, the employer could have simply changed the workers’ working conditions without their input,” said Daviau. “Now as PIPSC members, the RCMP civilian members can join in the process of negotiating these agreements and will have their say on the outcome of the negotiations.”

The new members will remain on the current RCMP pay system and will not transfer to Phoenix.

Published on 24 April 2018

On behalf of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada’s federal and provincial public sectors, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to civilian members of the RCMP from these Occupational Groups, who will soon be joining the PIPSC family:

  • Commerce and Purchasing (SPS-COM)
  • Computer Personnel (SPS-CP)
  • Forensic Laboratory and Identification, Forensic Science Laboratory Specialist (FLI-FSLS)
  • Electronics Engineer and Architecture (SPS-EE)
  • Research Scientist (SE-RES)
  • Chaplain (SPS-CHP)
  • Health Nursing (SPS-HN)

We look forward to being of service.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau,
President

Published on 14 December 2017

To our future members at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,

Over the past few months, there have been a number of developments concerning your integration into the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).  While we have endeavoured to communicate with you in a timely and accurate fashion, it is not always easy for us to understand the government’s thinking.  But we have now reached a stage where we are confident in what we can tell you.

As you may know, the government recently announced that deeming of civilian members of the RCMP under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) has been put on hold “indefinitely” because of problems with the Phoenix pay system.

We have been informed, however, that this will not affect the Institute’s application to the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) under Section 58 of the Public Service Labour Relations Act to become your bargaining agent.

We are therefore continuing to prepare to welcome some 1,300 of you, who will become part of PIPSC Occupational Groups – the Audit, Commerce and Purchasing (AV), Computer Systems (CS), Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP), Architecture, Engineering and Land Survey (NR), Research (RE) and Health Services (SH) Groups.

I would like to reassure you that your eventual integration into PIPSC Groups will not result in your being transferred to the troubled Phoenix pay system. You will continue to be paid through your existing processes until further notice.

We will always strive to defend and improve the working conditions and benefits for all our members.  As you know, there are several areas of differences between the terms and conditions for civilian members and their pay-matched comparators in the Core Public Administration. Members are rightly concerned that the employer will push for concessions during bargaining. 

We have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Treasury Board stating that your existing terms and conditions of employment will be maintained until new collective agreements have been negotiated. Your engagement and support for your union will be essential to a favourable outcome in negotiations with the employer. 

I would like to ask you to encourage your colleagues to share their contact information with us by signing up as PIPSC members in the days ahead. Doing so allows us to communicate directly with them and provide them with the latest information about the unionization process and their rights as union members. We can also assist them as required. In turn, they will be able to directly contact us on issues that are of concern to them. The online application form can be found at www.pipsc.ca under “Member Tools/How to Become a Member”.

We will continue to update you on the progress of the deeming process as developments occur in the weeks and months ahead.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau,
President

Published on 11 December 2017

PIPSC is applauding a decision by the federal government to put the transfer of RCMP civilian employees to the Phoenix pay system “indefinitely” on hold. The decision arose yesterday in response to a court injunction brought by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and applies equally to all RCMP civilian employees joining the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).

The decision removes a serious obstacle and concern facing many RCMP employees. RCMP civilian employees who have been promoted, reclassified or transferred can now look forward to having their pay adjusted under their existing pay system, without the threat of it being put at risk under the Phoenix pay system.

PIPSC continues to call for a new pay system to be built to replace Phoenix.

Published on 28 November 2017
As a RCMP Civilian member of our union, you will benefit from a number of key advantages including: top-notch negotiators, research staff and analysts, and representation at every step of the bargaining and grievance process.

PIPSC expresses its solidarity and support for members of the RCMP who are experiencing difficulty accessing front-line mental health services.

The Professional Institute applauds federal Auditor General Michael Ferguson’s recent report into the state of mental health support for members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The report is very timely, coming out only days after the Canadian Mental Health Association’s 66th annual Mental Health Week.

As the Institute prepares to welcome civilian members of the RCMP in the months ahead, we urge Canada’s national police force to redouble its efforts to ensure its officers and staff get the help they need, when they need it.

Published on 18 May 2017

To civilian members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,

The government has announced that on April 26, 2018, civilian members of the RCMP will be deemed to be appointed under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA). Because of the work you do, if you are currently a member of the following RCMP Occupational Groups, your bargaining agent will be the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada’s federal and provincial public sectors:

  • Commerce and Purchasing (SPS-COM)
  • Computer Personnel (SPS-CP)
  • Forensic Laboratory and Identification, Forensic Science Laboratory Specialist (FLI-FSLS)
  • Electronics Engineer and Architecture (SPS-EE)
  • Research Scientist (SE-RES)
  • Chaplain (SPS-CHP)
  • Health Nursing (SPS-HN)
  • Medical Officer (SPS-MO)
  • Psychologist (SPS-PSY)

You would become part of the corresponding PIPSC Occupational Groups – respectively, the Audit, Commerce and Purchasing (AV), Computer Systems (CS), Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP), Architecture, Engineering and Land Survey (NR), Research (RE) and Health Services (SH) Groups.

To ensure that you are protected by a union as soon as possible, the Institute has submitted an application to the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) under Section 58 of the Public Service labour Relations Act to become your bargaining agent as soon as possible. This would allow you to have official representatives working on your behalf prior to April 2018.

We will communicate with you about the status of this application on a regular basis in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, we have prepared the following Questions and Answers to assist you during the transition period.

What is Section 58 under the Public Service labour Relations Act?

The Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board has the authority to establish if any employee, or class of employees, is included in a bargaining unit determined by the Board to constitute a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, or is included in any other unit.

As you have historically been pay-matched and will be deemed to a corresponding PIPSC Occupational Group, we are asking the Board to determine that you are already a member in an existing Occupational Group represented by PIPSC.

Will PIPSC protect my current conditions of employment and benefits?

There are several areas of differences between the terms and conditions for civilian members and their pay-matched comparators in the Core Public Administration.

We have secured a commitment from the Treasury Board that your existing terms and conditions of employment will be maintained and that the parties will develop a process for addressing these items.

PIPSC is committed to entering discussions to protect your current terms and conditions of employment, however that will be subject to an agreement with the Treasury Board. Ultimately, as the employer the Treasury Board must be willing to protect the terms and conditions of your employment at deeming.

What can PIPSC do for me?

As a union member, you will benefit from a number of key advantages. Your dues pay for top-notch negotiators, research staff and analysts when your Group is negotiating a collective agreement. PIPSC stewards and staff provide quality representation at every step of the grievance process. PIPSC supplies expert opinions to correct inequalities in work descriptions and classifications. PIPSC legal experts know the law and provide comprehensive defence of our members’ rights. Through regular presentations to parliamentary committees, interventions in court cases, and timely media promotion and mobilization events, your voice is heard by government and the public.

When will I become a PIPSC member and when will I start paying union dues?

You will officially become a PIPSC member and start paying dues on the date set by the PSLREB once it has reached its decision about our application. We expect this to be at some time during the Fall of 2017. You will be notified as soon as the Board has made its decision.

How much will I be paying in dues?

PIPSC dues are set at $72.56 per month, or $870.72 a year. Please note that union dues are tax-deductible.

Will I get a retroactive salary increase when the members of my PIPSC Group receive theirs?

Yes. The Treasury Board has committed to implementing pay increases to you at the same time as those employees in your corresponding PIPSC bargaining unit.

How can I sign up as a PIPSC member?

Please complete the online application form.

How can I get more information?

PIPSC will be holding information sessions for affected employees. Times and locations will be announced shortly.

Published on 1 May 2017

For Immediate Release

Ottawa, May 1, 2017 – Following the government’s announcement earlier this year that civilian members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will be deemed to be appointed under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) in April 2018, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has submitted an application to the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) to become the bargaining agent for some 1,360 of these employees whose primary duties fall within one of the bargaining units for which PIPSC is the certified bargaining agent.

This would allow these RCMP employees to be protected by a union and to have official representatives working on their behalf as soon as possible.

While there are some differences between the terms and conditions of employment for civilian RCMP members and their counterparts in the federal public service, PIPSC has taken steps to ensure its future members' rights are protected and terms and conditions preserved as they transition into the public service.

“We look forward to welcoming these new members into our community of dedicated professionals who serve Canadians every day. We believe we will be stronger together”, said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “Our goal is to ensure that they maintain their current terms and conditions of employment and that the deeming process goes as smoothly as possible as they transition to occupational groups represented by the Institute”.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada’s federal and provincial public sectors.

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

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For further information:
Pierre Villon
(613) 228-6310 ext 4928 (office)
or (613) 794-9369 (cell.)
pvillon@pipsc.ca

Published on 1 May 2017

Dear Civilian Members at the RCMP,

Since our communication on February 21, 2017, the Institute has been in discussions with the Treasury Board Secretariat on the deeming to occupational groups represented by PIPSC. We are committed to representing your best interests throughout this process and we are currently exploring two (2) options to be recognized as your bargaining agent prior to deeming and we will be communicating more details in the very near future.

We thank everyone who has contacted us at civilian_members@pipsc.ca and we are gathering all information submitted to ensure that we can address your comments and concerns, as well as compiling contact information so that we can communicate more effectively and keep you informed as the process unfolds. We encourage you to take a moment to complete our Membership Application Form.

Please be assured that our goal is to ensure that Civilian Members maintain their current terms and conditions of employment and that the deeming process goes as smoothly as possible as you transition to occupational groups represented by PIPSC.

We look forward to welcoming you into our community of dedicated professionals who serve Canadians every day. We believe we will be stronger together.

Better Together!
Debi Daviau

Published on 12 April 2017

Dear Civilian Members at the RCMP,

I'm sure you are aware of the announcement that many of you will be deemed to occupational groups represented by PIPSC. Our members look forward to welcoming you into our community of dedicated professionals who serve Canadians every day. We believe we will be stronger together.

Our purpose at PIPSC is to act collectively to improve our members' lives. As PIPSC members, you will have the backing of over 55,000 other professionals and our collective resources as you fight to protect your jobs and your benefits during this process of transition and beyond.

We are proud of a record of accomplishment for our members. We negotiate for better salaries and benefits. We provide workplace representation for our members. And we have a growing influence over public policy in Canada.

Many of you are legitimately worried about this transition and I want to assure you that we are committed to protecting the best interests of civilian members throughout this process. But we also share your frustration with the lack of information and transparency regarding your transition to the Public Service.

The employer has kept us in the dark as well. Since you are not officially members of PIPSC yet, we have not been privy to any information outside of what the employer has announced publicly. Worse still, the employer has not given us your name or contact information, effectively making it impossible to share any information with you directly.

Please take action now and email us at civilian_members@pipsc.ca so we can work together on this transition process. We will work hard to find out answers to questions and concerns that Civilian Members like you have raised. We are contacting Treasury Board to begin discussions on the transition. But we also need you to contact us, tell us what issues we need to raise with Treasury Board and give us a channel to communicate with you and keep you informed as the process unfolds.

You have our commitment that your information and inquiries will be kept in strict confidence and we will do our utmost to get an answer from the employer to your questions and concerns. Email us now or speak to a local PIPSC Steward so we can keep you updated on the process.

You can count on PIPSC to protect your interests throughout the transition process.

Better Together!
Debi Daviau

Published on 21 February 2017