2019: A year of results

2019 saw new collective agreements for 14 groups, new scientific integrity policies, Phoenix compensation and progress on the new pay system. Together, we made this all happen.

Our collective bargaining strategy was successful – bringing home historic leave for survivors and victims of domestic violence, increases in family leave, first language on workplace harassment, and cost of living increases for all groups. Members in the Computer Systems (CS) group continue to work hard for a new collective agreement. We stand together with them and all groups working toward a new collective agreement!

We’ve had advances on Phoenix. We made the government understand that Phoenix must be replaced and that we must be consulted. Our calls for the government to commit funding to the Next Generation Human Resources and Pay System were successful. We won compensation for members paid through the failed Phoenix system. And we agreed to a settlement framework that will ensure individual members are compensated for financial losses and serious damages. You will get the money you are owed.

We built on our previous round of bargaining where we secured new language on contracting out. We’ve monitored government contracting practices, filed hundreds of policy grievances when we’ve seen public service work being contracted externally. We have seen progress in shifting the mentality of politicians and executives.

We ushered in the implementation of scientific integrity policies in all departments that have more than 10 scientists. We are protecting public scientists and science.

We made clear that Canadians and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) professionals want to see tax loopholes closed. Seventy-seven percent of Canadians and 87% of CRA professionals agree that e-commerce companies like Netflix, Google, Amazon and Uber should be subject to taxes for business carried out in Canada.

During the federal election, we let Canadians know that federal scientists think climate change is a crisis in need of immediate action. And that Canada is not currently doing enough.

We were present on Parliament Hill - lobbying, testifying at committees and providing our expert advice in written briefs and public consultations. We held discussions with Members of Parliament and Senators on our annual Lobby Day.

We worked hard to make our collective voice heard loud and clear by Canadians and our elected officials.

It has been a big year. So many important wins. Through our membership survey, we know that eighty-one percent of our members are pleased with the work of our union. And we are proud of all that we have accomplished together.

We are building progress in our union – we are leading progress in Canada.

Learn more about our work in 2019:


26 January 2017
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.

26 January 2017
The news this week that the Trump administration has imposed communications restrictions on officials working for the U.S.

22 December 2016
Dear Members, As we approach the end of the year I wanted to take the opportunity to update you about the Phoenix pay system and the steps PIPSC has taken to try and find immediate and lasting solutions to the fiasco we find ourselves in.

19 December 2016
Dear Members, Last week I had the opportunity to meet with Deputy Minister Simon Kennedy to speak with him about the Phoenix pay problems our members at Health Canada are facing.

1 December 2016
Collections Calls are not Legitimate

27 October 2016
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.