News & Issues

On February 11, 2020, the National Research Council held a symposium in Ottawa to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.  The symposium celebrated women working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields across the federal government.

The government has announced the selection of SAP to work on the Next Generation Human Resources and Pay Solution pilot.

The Auditor General has found significant problems of harassment, discrimination and violence at Canada Border Services Agency and Correctional Service Canada workplaces.

On February 25, 2020, PIPSC sent a significant delegation to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, part of the Canadian Labour Congress’s annual Lobby Day.

A coalition of Ontario unions representing approximately 270,000 employees and over forty different unions, including PIPSC, announced that they have filed a constitutional challenge to Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act.

Thousands of PIPSC members took action, and our demands were heard loud and clear. It was announced that RCMP civilian members’ concerns about moving to the failed Phoenix pay system have been heard.

PIPSC is asking its 60,000 members to send an email to the Treasury Board President, Jean-Yves Duclos, the RCMP Commissioner, Brenda Lucki and the Public Services and Procurement Minister, Anita Anand, demanding that the transfer of the new PIPSC members to Phoenix be stopped.

Protests in support of the Wet'suwet'en people are taking place across the country. As a PIPSC member working in areas where a protest may be occurring, here is what you need to know.

We have made clear to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki that we oppose any efforts to move RCMP civilian members to the failed Phoenix pay system. Join PIPSC members across the country and email Minister Duclos, Minister Anand, and the RCMP Commissioner demanding that the transfer of our new members to Phoenix be stopped.

The personal information of over 69,000 public servants with Phoenix pay issues was breached this month. This is unacceptable.

We encourage students, parents and all labour activists to join education unions on the picket lines to send a strong message to the Ford government that cuts hurt kids.

The inexcusable state of federal buildings across the country is an extremely concerning situation that can only be corrected by a long-term, and expensive, commitment on the part of the government. We will continue to keep a very close watch on the situation.

Congratulations, Eddy, and thank you for your years of work for the Canadian public.

Your union is turning 100 years old! That means 100 years of history, progress and hard work serving Canadians. Tell us why you’re proud to be a PIPSC member.

Each year the Treasury Board undertakes the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES).

The 2019 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) indicates very minor improvements in levels of workplace harassment and the promotion of psychological wellness. While the number of public servants impacted by Phoenix has increased.

According to our 2019 membership survey, career development and training (CDT) is a top priority for seventy percent of PIPSC members – in particular, younger members. That’s why we’re launching a research project to better understand all aspects of career development and training in the federal public service, such as qualifying for a promotion, attending conferences and staying current with new technology.

The federal government spent over $11.9 billion on management consultants, temporary help contractors and IT consultants between 2011 and 2018 to do the work that could have been done by Canada’s own public service professionals. The contracts ended up costing the public twice their original price.

Work traditionally done by public servants is increasingly outsourced to external consultants and contractors. Between 2011 and 2018, the federal government outsourced over $11.9 billion in work. This is the first investigative report in our series unpacking the government’s growing reliance on outsourcing and its true costs.

The implementation of new collective agreements is underway for the AV, NR, RE, SH, SP, AFS (CRA), NRC (IS, LS, RO-RCO, TR), NEB, NFB, NUREG (CNSC) and OSFI groups. This webinar video outlines the details of your pay increase and the tips for calculating retro pay.

With a third of Canada under water, we rely on expert hydrographers like Elizabeth Bonner to make sure mariners can travel safely. 

PIPSC has joined eight Ontario unions representing more than 250,000 provincial public sector employees in a legal challenge against Bill 124. The bill violates Ontario workers’ Charter-protected right to free and fair collective bargaining.

On November 8, 2019 PIPSC Vice-President Norma Domey led a two-hour “standing room only” seminar on "Leading with Emotional Intelligence" at the Institute’s 100th Annual General Meeting in Gatineau, Québec.  

This training outlines key changes to the parental leave policy, eligibility requirements, and strategies for accessing it.

The new parental allowance provisions are currently applicable to the AV, NR, RE, SH, SP, CNRC (LS, IR, RO-RCO, TR), CRA (AFS), OSFI, CNSC (NUREG), NEB and NFB collective agreements.

Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world to commemorate the proclamation of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948.

President Daviau presented the 2019 Institute’s Gold Medal to Dr. Xiaolan Wang to recognize her contributions to the understanding of climate change in Canada and internationally. Dr. Wang is a Senior Research Scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

If you are a former PIPSC member who was paid at least one day by the Phoenix system, you may now make an online claim for compensation. We strongly encourage you to claim your compensation.

3.6 million Canadians cannot afford to fill their prescriptions. Canada remains the only developed country with a universal public health insurance system that does not include universal coverage for prescription drugs.

Your pay increase and retro pay What is retro pay? Retro pay occurs when a new collective agreement is negotiated and time has lapsed since the expiration of the old one.

The implementation process is underway for the AV, NR, RE, SH, SP, CNRC (LS, IR, RO-RCO, TR), CRA (AFS), OSFI, CNSC (NUREG), NEB and NFB collective agreements.

It is with a profound sense of sorrow and regret that the Institute informs you of the passing of our friend and colleague, Ed Sweet. Ed passed away on November 17, 2019.  Ed’s commitment to Institute members was deep and unwavering. He will be missed.

Until 2017, members of the Public Service Pension Plan were provided with an annual pension statement.  As a result of the failed Phoenix pay system, the Pension Centre has been unable to issue these statements.

At the 100th AGM, Debi Daviau addressed the delegates, touching on the AGM theme “Leading Progress” and outlining the goals for the year ahead.

The two guest speakers at the 100th AGM were David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data responsible for conducting our 2019 membership survey, and Hassan Yussuff, a well-known champion for Canadian workers and president of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Debi wrote a follow-up to her October 23, 2019 meeting, during which you requested a short briefing note summarizing the Institute’s position and concerns regarding the potential transfer of our Civilian Members to the troubled Phoenix pay system.