Recent rumors have surfaced in the media suggesting that the federal government will increase the mandate to three days in the office per week for federal public service workers.  

This comes as a complete surprise as there has been no consultation with PIPSC on this critical issue, nor with other unions, based on media reports. For a government that professes a commitment to collaboration, this move is not only disappointing but deeply concerning.

While there is no official confirmation from the Treasury Board regarding changes to the common hybrid model as outlined in the Direction on Prescribed Presence in the Workplace policy, this would significantly diverge from the government’s stated direction on reducing office footprint and selling 50% of federal buildings.

Moreover, this abrupt shift goes against the "presence with purpose" approach that PIPSC has long been advocating for — where being in the office should be justified by specific operational needs, not blanket mandates.

Our members continue to report challenges they are facing in the enforcement of the current mandate requiring 40% office presence. The government’s own studies from 2020 highlight the poor and inadequate conditions of federal buildings, many of which are still not conducive to productive work. 

Many members have expressed concerns about inadequate office space, which often leads to spending office days on virtual calls, negating the purported benefits of physical presence. Forcing more employees back into these environments does not align with operational needs or common sense.

Moreover, this abrupt shift disrupts the lives of our members, many of whom have had to make significant adjustments to their personal and professional lives to comply with previous management directives on presence in the workplace. These decisions not only waste time and resources but also cause unnecessary stress and disruption, diverting attention from the essential services our members provide to Canadians.

In our ongoing efforts, we are actively working to implement the telework agreement achieved in the last round of bargaining. We are establishing joint panels within each department to individually review denied telework requests to ensure these matters are addressed both effectively and fairly.

We urge the government to halt its push towards arbitrary and one-size fits all policy changes and to engage meaningfully with us to develop a rational and flexible telework policy. 

We have requested a meeting with Treasury Board President Anita Anand to discuss these critical issues urgently. Public service workers deserve a fair, well-defined approach to hybrid work that considers health, safety, and operational efficiency while delivering the services Canadians rely on.

We stand committed to advocating for a work environment that respects the needs and contributions of all public service professionals. 

We appreciate your continued support and engagement as we navigate these challenges together.

PIPSC President Jennifer Carr has been on leave since April 10, 2024. Vice-President Eva Henshaw is acting President in her place. Continuing to provide high-quality services for our members remains a top priority. 

PIPSC is committed to due process and procedural fairness and is bound by the rules that protect those principles, including confidentiality, which applies to all parties. Nevertheless, we recognize that you may have questions and want to be as transparent as possible, where possible. 

The following addresses some of the frequently asked questions we have received.

OTTAWA, April 17, 2024 – Following numerous promising announcements around affordability such as pharmacare and housing, the 2024 Federal Budget offered mostly cuts for the public service. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada is concerned this will threaten the quality and accessibility of services – calling instead for strategic investments.

"Public servants are the lifeline of millions of Canadians – particularly our most vulnerable populations," warned PIPSC Economist Ryan Campbell. “Choosing cuts over strengthening the public service is a missed opportunity.”

Strategic Government Investment vs. Cuts

Budget 2024 confirmed that the government will achieve savings through the natural attrition of public service jobs, as outlined in the main estimates released in February. This represents approximately 5,000 full-time equivalent positions over the next 4 years.

“Make no mistake – cuts by attrition are still cuts. When you’re freezing budgets, you’re asking departments to do more, with less,” said Campbell. 

In the wake of the pandemic, the need for hiring was clear. But this hiring came after years of severe cuts that had placed considerable strain on the ability of the public service to meet the demands of a growing population. 

"It’s crucial to understand that slowing growth and making cuts are different strategies," stated Campbell. "Over the years, growth in the public service has aligned closely with the growth of the population, ensuring that services could continue to meet needs effectively."

Outsourcing Costs and the Need for In-House Investment

While PIPSC appreciates efforts to enforce higher standards of procurement, this budget fails to address the government's over-reliance on outsourcing. This means lower quality and more expensive services, as well as less transparency, less accountability, and the loss of institutional knowledge and skills in the public service.

"A shadow public service of consultants and temporary staff operating alongside the government workforce has been less effective and more expensive, offering a poor return on investment for Canadian taxpayers," Campbell added. “This trend must be reversed. Instead, invest in our public service to deliver essential services more efficiently and equitably.”

Reducing outsourcing would deliver immediate savings, and strengthen the fabric of our public sector – making it more resilient, self-reliant, and better equipped to serve the public interest.

Overlooking Phoenix

8 years after its introduction, 30% of employees are still reporting pay errors due to Phoenix. It is troubling that this budget promises the bare minimum – the funding outlined is only enough to maintain current activities on the file.

With pay problems on the rise, maintaining the status quo is clearly not good enough. As long as public service workers continue to face damages, the government must continue to provide compensation and accommodations. Public services are essential, and so are the workers who deliver them – they deserve to be paid properly, now.

Looking Forward

We are interested in digging deeper into some positives coming out of the budget, such as investments in the civilian workforce at DND and research, policies around tax fairness, as well as cementing the “right to disconnect” in the federal labour code.

Nevertheless, PIPSC remains steadfast in our commitment to advocate for policies that support robust, reliable, and fair public services. We call on the government to support initiatives that focus on strategic investments rather than reductions, ensuring the public service can continue to deliver exceptional services to Canadians.

PIPSC represents over 75,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram. 

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For more information call:
Johanne Fillion: 613-883-4900
jfillion@pipsc.ca

PIPSC is pleased to announce that a settlement has been reached in a class action involving employees who were required to pay higher transfer amounts because of a change in actuarial assumptions when they transferred from the Ontario Public Service to the Canada Revenue Agency as part of the Ontario Sales Tax Administration Reform Process.

A notice approved by the Court, describing the next steps in the process, is available below. If you are affected by this class action, you should be contacted individually by the Pension Centre with the materials linked below. If you do not receive materials from the Pension Centre by May 15, 2024, and believe that you are a member of this class, please contact pensiontransferclassaction@ravenlaw.com.

OSTAR Phase I Notice

OSTAR Phase I Participation form

April 11, 2024 - As of last evening, PIPSC President Jennifer Carr is on leave. Vice-President Eva Henshaw is acting President in her place.

“Continuing to provide the high-quality services our members expect and deserve is our top priority,” said Henshaw. “I am ready to serve our membership in this role, and will continue to work alongside our professional staff to ensure a smooth transition.”

Acting President Henshaw was elected to the PIPSC Board of Directors in 2021. Henshaw is a member of the Information Technology (IT) group, and has served PIPSC members as a steward and in other leadership roles since 2006.

We have some exciting news that is going to revolutionize the way we run PIPSC elections. In spring 2024, we will be launching a new election platform! 

The new platform will modernize the user experience, meaning members will no longer need a ballot key to vote, and election results will be easy to access. We will be testing the platform for a group election this spring, and the entire membership will get the opportunity to use the platform to vote in the upcoming National Election. 

Simply by logging in on this new platform, members will be able to see elections they are eligible to vote in, as well as past elections and election results. The platform is also highly secure, requiring 2-factor authentication to protect the integrity of PIPSC elections. And thanks to the platform being cloud-based, members will be able to vote from anywhere in the world.

Another benefit of the new election platform is that members will automatically receive an email through the platform when an election is called. They will also receive reminders when voting is opened or closed, and when election results are available. 

To ensure that all members are set up on the new platform before the National Elections in November 2024, we will be onboarding members in waves starting this spring. Members should keep an eye out for an email from the election platform prompting them to log in to the platform, create a password, and set up 2-factor authentication. Then, all they need to do is wait for an email letting them know that voting is open. 

Following the recent unnecessary loss of life of Gazans trying to access life-saving food aid, PIPSC’s Human Rights and Diversity Committee is reiterating our call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine.

The International Court of Justice recently ordered Israel to prevent genocide. In light of this, PIPSC’s Human Rights and Diversity Committee urges Canada to take a firm stance against arms exports to Israel, to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Rafah City – which was meant to be a safe refuge for civilians – the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and full respect of international humanitarian law.

The committee welcomes the announcement that Canada will restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), but urges Canada to do more.

The committee also wants to acknowledge Canada's recent support of the amended NDP motion on Palestinian statehood. This vote signifies a significant step toward advancing peace and justice in the Middle East.

As we mark this milestone, let us renew our commitment to supporting efforts for a just and sustainable peace, working collaboratively with international partners to forge a brighter future for all affected by this enduring conflict.

Finally, the Committee recognizes the distress that Jewish and Muslim members in particular could be facing in the midst of discussions around this topic. We also encourage affected members to contact their Employee and Family Assistance Program. We are continuing to assess the best ways to support the elimination of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the workplace.

Canada Life's takeover of the updated Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is not what our members deserve.  PIPSC, our colleagues from other unions and the retiree associations have been holding stakeholders accountable for their failings  - including via a Parliamentary inquiry.  While customer service metrics show significant improvements, issues remain - including excessive turnaround times for prior authorisation and atrocious customer service when dealing with MSH International - the subcontractor for out-of-country claims.

We continue to explore all avenues to hold the employer responsible for its failings.  Some of our partner unions are turning to policy grievances.  Given the current framework for Pensions and Benefits are outside the normal grievance process, this approach presents its own challenges.  While we continue to explore the best strategies to ensure the PSHCP delivers, rest assured PIPSC is doing everything in its power to make your health plan work as promised.  We will continue to provide updates on our website.

Members with questions about their plan are invited to review our members' guide to the PSHCP - which also explains how all PIPSC members can benefit from 90 percent drug coverage through our pharmacy partner Mednow, as well as access to various telehealth options at no cost. Some restrictions apply.  If you are not able to resolve your concerns with Canada Life, please contact us at pensionsbenefits@pipsc.ca. Our Pensions and Benefits team can provide guidance.