Help protect the retirement security of all Canadians! Download and print this postcard and send it to your Member of Parliament or order your pre-printed copies by email from bettertogether@pipsc.ca. There’s no postage required when mailed in Canada. You’ll be making a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of current and future retirees across the country.
On December 1, 2016, I wrote to Minister of Finance Bill Morneau to express our deep concerns with the introduction of Bill C-27, which paves the way for federally regulated employers to convert defined benefit pension plans to so-called target benefit plans (TBPs) and, in the process, shift the risks for a secure retirement from employers to employees. While this legislation does not affect the vast majority of our members, the trend and the threat it poses for the future is clear – to all of us, and to all Canadian workers hoping to ensure a secure retirement.
Minister Morneau’s reply arrived last week. After sharing the Liberal government’s recent record in rolling back the eligibility age for Old Age Security from 67 to 65 and expanding the Canada Pension Plan, he characterized TBPs as “a new, voluntary, sustainable and flexible pension option.” The Minister then added:
“Our Government is always open to hearing the views of stakeholders on our commitments and actions. I have reviewed your concerns with certain aspects of the legislation and taken note of the views expressed at recent meetings held by Department of Finance Canada officials with a number of unions for Bill C-27. We are listening, and before this legislation proceeds any further, I want to ensure that all of your views are fully considered. To that end, I would invite a written submission outlining your concerns and possible solutions. I would appreciate if your submissions could be received by May 15, 2017.”
Placing the onus for retirement security on employees rather than employers and calling it “voluntary,” “sustainable” and “flexible” is the very opposite of “new” or “optional,” let alone secure retirement planning. PIPSC members can be certain we will be sending a submission to the Minister outlining our concerns in more detail.
In the meantime, I encourage all members to express their opposition to this bill by calling the Minister’s office at (613) 992-1377 and voicing your concerns.
Better Together!
Debi Daviau
President
Last Friday marked the ‘sad’ first anniversary of the Phoenix pay system’s implementation. The first year of Phoenix can only be characterized as an abject failure. It has meant prolonged anxiety and pay problems for federal public service professionals across the country.
To keep the pressure on government to find a speedy and lasting solution as well as ensure adequate resources are dedicated to the problem, we held a Day of Action.
Since Phoenix has not been providing us with any relief, PIPSC members were asked to use their regular morning coffee break to send a message. Members across the country were encouraged to get together in their workplaces over coffee and a sweet, take a photo of themselves urging the government to “Fix Phoenix,” and post them on social media sites. Over a hundred members alone came to our #fixphoenix photo booth at Place du Portage to spread the message that we need an end to Phoenix problems for good. Check out the photos of members demanding a fix to the flawed system.
Last Thursday, PIPSC President Debi Daviau also joined the leaderships of PSAC and CAPE at a press conference to demand that extra resources be included in the next federal budget. The funds would ensure the government has the resources to implement a fix and provide proper supports for all employees. President Daviau also issued a clear call for training of our CS IT community to ensure the public service is not handcuffed to IBM for the next 40 years. Phoenix is a clear example of a mismanaged, outsourced IT modernization project. If we are ever going to stop similar problems from occurring in the future the government needs to invest today in its in-house capacity to implement upgrades and maintain the pay system we all deserve.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our Day of Action!
OTTAWA, February 23, 2017 – On the first anniversary of Phoenix, the three largest federal public service unions are urging the government to include a $75 million Phoenix contingency fund in the upcoming federal budget.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), and the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) say the funds are critical to help ensure federal public service workers are paid correctly and on-time.
“Our members are growing increasingly frustrated with this situation. If departments don’t have the proper resources, pay problems will never be resolved,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National Executive Vice-President. “The solution to the Phoenix debacle needs to go beyond the technological fixes. This fund will broaden the capacity of departments to address the challenges they are facing as a result of the new pay system.”
The unions have been working with the government to help fix Phoenix and find solutions to its numerous problems. Through this work, it has become clear that federal departments and agencies need more staff and training to deal with Phoenix. The $75 million contingency fund will give departments and agencies the resources they need to do this.
“It’s quite clear that Phoenix has not been the boon to either efficiency or cost savings it was intended to be,” added PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “Budgeting more money to address the system’s continued failings is the least the government should do after a year with this problem-plagued system. Our members and Canadians need Phoenix fixed."
“Our members have shown remarkable patience in regards to the Phoenix Pay problems; that’s a testament to how deeply our members care about the work they do on behalf of Canadians,” said CAPE Acting President André Picotte. “As a union, we’ve helped guide our members towards solutions, but ultimately it’s the government that has the power to fix this problem once and for all.”
The unions are also encouraging their members to participate in a variety of actions in order to draw attention to the one-year anniversary, such as contacting their MPs and writing to the Prime Minister.
For more information:
Véronique Breton, PSAC, 343-560-8882 or bretonv@psac.com
Johanne Fillion, PIPSC, 613-883-4900 or jfillion@pipsc.ca
Ben René, CAPE, 613-406-5962 or brene@acep-cape.ca
For Immediate Release
OTTAWA, February 21, 2017 – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), and the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) will hold a joint press conference to mark the first anniversary of Phoenix and make an announcement.
Thursday, February 23
1:00 PM ET
Press Conference with Chris Aylward, PSAC National Executive Vice-President, Debi Daviau, PIPSC President and a representative from CAPE.
Charles Lynch Room, 130-S Centre Block
House of Commons
PSAC, PIPSC and CAPE represent over 240,000 federal government employees.
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For further information:
Véronique Breton, PSAC, (343) 540-8882 (cell), BretonV@psac-afpc.com
Johanne Fillion, PIPSC, (613) 883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca
Can you believe it? Friday Feb 24 marks the first anniversary of Phoenix’s implementation. A year of anxiety and problems for public service professionals and the government.
That’s why we’re going to mark this sad anniversary with a Day of Action and a clear message that enough is enough! Fix Phoenix!
Print one of these posters and take a selfie with them. Post the selfie on your social media accounts. If you’re on Twitter, tag Minister Foote on the picture @Judy_Foote and use the hashtag #FixPhoenix
Your Bargaining Team met with the Employer between February 7 and 9. The negotiation session was disappointing to say the least. After more than 25 days of negotiation over a 15 month period your Bargaining Team is frustrated with the employer's position and slow pace of negotiations.
Your Bargaining Team has been focused on improving pay (including the SR conversion), career development & training, earlier vacation accrual, more flexibility for people with families and scientific integrity.
Happy New Year to everyone. All of us on the S & A Executive hope you had a good holiday and are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities coming up in 2017. Here’s some of the latest news.
The bargaining team last met with the CFIA negotiators in November, 2016. There has been almost no progress in the negotiations since we started in December of 2015. Both sides withdrew some minor articles of their proposals, and agreed on some very minor changes, but no substantial issues have been addressed. The next round will be in early February.
The news this week that the Trump administration has imposed communications restrictions on officials working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other government departments is a chilling reminder of the Harper government’s muzzling of federal scientists in our own country and the harm done not only to our members but to science, the public interest, and democracy.
Dear Members,
We are pleased to share with you news that the Treasury Board is now directing all departments to issue salary advances to employees who are experiencing missing or reduced pay due to problems with the Phoenix pay system.
I held a press conference on January 12 to call for immediate action on this front. We are pleased that our union’s call for systems to help those facing hardship due to ongoing problems with Phoenix will now be better addressed.
Included here is the Treasury Board’s memo to Deputy Heads, which encourages them to use priority payments for people who are experiencing hardship due to pay problems. We had heard from members that they were suffering often because of a lack of access to emergency pay. We appreciate that, following our urging, the Treasury Board has taken steps to address this gap.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please call your regional office to speak to one of our Employment Relations Officers.
Better Together!
Debi