OTTAWA, June 5 2024 – Over lunch time on Thursday June 6, members of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) will hold a rally for remote work rights outside Canada Revenue Agency Headquarters in Ottawa.

PIPSC Vice-President, Sean O’Reilly, and AFS (Audit, Financial and Scientific - CRA) PIPSC Group President Doug Mason will question the Canada Revenue Agency’s decision, despite being a separate employer, to follow Treasury Board lead.

PIPSC asserts that this is not about just another day a week in the office, it’s about bad workplace management, deteriorating working conditions and lack of respect for the employees who deliver the services that Canadians rely on.  

Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024

 

Time: Noon to 12:45PM. SPEECHES will start at 12:15 PM

 

Place: CRA Headquarters, 555 Mackenzie, OTTAWA (ON)

 

Speakers:

  • Sean O’Reilly, Vice-President, PIPSC
  • Doug Mason, President, AFS (Audit, Financial and Scientific - CRA) Group - PIPSC

PIPSC represents over 75,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government, and over 16,000 AFS members employed at the CRA. Follow us on Facebook, on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram.

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For further information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

After over a decade of dedicated lobbying efforts, significant progress has been made for Public Service Employees with regard to the Supplemental Death Benefit (SDB) administrative procedures. Effective June 1, 2024, pivotal changes have been implemented, allowing individuals to designate up to five beneficiaries for the SDB.

This long-awaited enhancement to SDB, championed by PIPSC and our colleagues at other bargaining agents and the retirees' association. represents a significant milestone.   As of June 1, 2024, both retirees and active employees can now allocate multiple  beneficiaries to the SDB, providing them with greater flexibility and control over their financial and Estate planning.

Previously, the SDB only allowed for the designation of a single beneficiary. To circumvent this limitation, individuals often designated their "Estate" as the beneficiary, subsequently assigning beneficiaries in their last will and testament. However, this approach necessitated the probate of the estate.  The probate process, often protracted and intricate, carries significant tax implications 

For comprehensive details on these administrative changes and their implications, please refer to 

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/information-notice/changes-public-service-supplementary-death-benefit-regulations.html

 

FREDERICTON, May 27, 2024 –– After over a year of contract talks, the crisis facing New Brunswick’s criminal justice system has continued to get worse. New Brunswick Crown Prosecutor President Shara Munn said that left Crown Prosecutors and Family Crown Counsel with no choice but to take action. A strike vote was recently held with a 100% participation rate that delivered a 99% strike mandate should talks fail.

 “We’ll continue to work hard towards a fair deal. But as talks dragged on the reality we face every day working to keep the criminal justice system going just gets harder and harder,” declared Munn. “We are disheartened this crisis has been allowed to get so bad. It’s especially disappointing that a government that talks so much about being tough on crime; has failed to work with us to strengthen our crumbling justice system.”

As the parties approach the next step, a planned conciliation meeting on June 14 and 15, 2024, Crown Prosecutors and Family Crown Counsel are looking for the government to back up their stated commitment to public safety with a willingness to negotiate fairly and present solutions to the recruitment and retention crisis.

“Recruitment and retention problems are putting our justice system at risk. We don’t have enough prosecutors or supports to do our jobs. That’s why prosecutors are united and saying with one voice: The status quo is not working. The government must act,” warned Munn.  “We are dedicated professionals who handle heart-wrenching cases while being crushed under heavy workloads. We’re committed to making sure New Brunswickers have the justice system they deserve. But if the government doesn’t work with us to fix this crisis, more experienced prosecutors will leave and the crisis will get even worse. Community public safety could be put at risk.”

“Crown Prosecutors and Family Crown Counsel want to reach a fair deal. We are standing up for the safety of New Brunswickers. The ball is now in the government’s court to come to the table and work with us in good faith on real solutions,” Munn concluded.

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 For more information or to arrange an interview with NBCPA President Shara Munn please contact:

Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca  

 

Acting President to Address Issues with Minister Anand at Mayor's Breakfast

OTTAWA, May 22, 2024 – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has released preliminary data from a recent survey of its members, highlighting significant challenges faced by federal public service workers under the new Return to Office (RTO) mandate.

"Our survey results reinforce this order's lack of evidence-based decision-making and nonsensical nature,” states Eva Henshaw, Acting President of PIPSC. “The vast majority of our members do not even have an adequate office environment to return to."

Key findings include:

  • Fewer than 30% of respondents have a dedicated workstation.
  • Less than half feel their current working conditions meet their needs.
  • 50% of racialized, LGBTQ2S+, and people with disabilities are likely or extremely likely to consider leaving  the public service due to the RTO directive.

“There is a clear contradiction between the government’s RTO mandate and the government’s goals on increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the public service,” says Henshaw. “It’s time for telework agreements that will diversify the workforce and truly reflect the geography and demographics of Canada."

Further, one of the primary rationales behind the increased push for RTO – opportunities for collaboration – is not supported by the data. 

"91% of PIPSC members said their meetings are always or almost always virtual,” Henshaw noted. “The public might imagine teams working closely together in the same space, but the reality is employees are sitting on video calls all day – rarely even in the same building as their teammates."

PIPSC will be attending the Mayor’s Breakfast event in Ottawa this Thursday, where Treasury Board President Anita Anand is the invited guest. "Our attempts to engage with Minister Anand have been met with silence," Henshaw said. “It is concerning that we are forced to buy tickets to a municipal breakfast event to initiate a dialogue.”

In May 2024, PIPSC conducted a survey of more than 60,000 of its members working for Federal Departments or Agencies, to assess how the members feel after returning to the office. More than 20,000 responded to the survey. 

PIPSC calls on the federal government to reconsider its Directive and work with unions to develop smarter policies representing the present and future of work.

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: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca

The preventable failures of Canada Life to meet its obligations under the updated Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) contract will finally have an impact on their bottom line. When unions and procurement experts gave feedback on what to include in the 2023 PSHCP contract, we insisted on beefing up compliance provisions. Like many government contracts, there needs to be incentives for good performance and penalties for underperformance. Government officials have confirmed that they are now applying these penalties to Canada Life. We say, it’s about time.

Unions and retiree associations are not privy to all the details, nor were we able to insist on specific contract metrics. We urged the government to learn lessons from the previous contract with Sun Life. This included adding very specific language to measure performance. These recommendations are finally hitting Canada Life, as it continues to fail to meet contractual obligations - especially, we assume, involving its out-of-country subcontractor MSH International. 

The plan administrator has invested massively in improving its service.Our members are reporting much-improved call centre and claims approval turnaround times; however, out-of-country claims remain unacceptably slow and error-prone. Canada Life insists it is doing everything in its power to hold its chosen subcontractor, MSH, accountable. Progress is slow, but going in the right direction. These latest fines, we expect, will accelerate that progress.  PIPSC, like our peer unions across the public service, has also filed policy grievances against the poor handover as part of a larger strategy to lobby for change and restitution. 

The PSHCP covers most active and retired PIPSC members working in the federal public service, including at separate agencies. Members with questions about their plan are invited to check PIPSC’s detailed members’ guide on the PSHCP, which also has information on how PIPSC members, including those with other Health plans, can benefit from 90 percent drug coverage on their medication through our Serviceplus pharmacy partner Mednow. Some restrictions apply.


 

Ottawa, May 8, 2024  — Today, leaders from Canada’s public sector unions held a joint press conference to reiterate their strong opposition to the federal government's mandate for a three-day in-office work week. This directive affects over 260,000 federal public service workers and has sparked considerable unrest due to its top-down implementation without union consultation.

"After months of negotiating Letters of Agreement on Telework tailored to the needs of our members, this new mandate nullifies our considerable efforts and erodes the trust we have worked so hard to build," said the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) Vice-President, Sean O’Reilly. “It sets a dangerous precedent and represents a colossal waste of time and resources for unions and Canadians.”

PIPSC is committed to fighting this unilateral decision that ignores members’ negotiated rights. The union has filed a policy grievance to challenge the bypassing of mandatory consultation requirements, and is preparing an Unfair Labour Practice complaint to address the breach of good faith and consultation standards. 

“We're not only defending our rights but also the principles of fair and effective workplace management” said O’Reilly. “As the largest employer in the country, this is something we will continue to actively fight for and something all Canadians should expect from their government.”

Treasury Board's decision has a particularly harsh effect on those groups still in bargaining, as a result of the employer's failure to discuss this with the Institute, they are being denied the benefit of basic labour relations principles and practices. 

"I can tell you with certainty that public service professionals would much rather be working productively, than worrying about rearranging their lives once again to accommodate Treasury’s Board’s latest nonsensical decisions,” said O’Reilly. “We are fighting back with every tool at our disposal and urging all public sector workers to join us in this critical battle."

PIPSC asserts that the decision to mandate federal workers into the office another day a week prioritizes external pressures over the delivery of quality public services, and blatantly disregards the evidence-based practices PIPSC has long advocated for. 

“Had there been proper consultation, the government would have understood the challenges our members are facing in these workspaces,” said O’Reilly. “Inadequate meeting spaces, insufficient workstations, and the absurdity of traveling to an assigned workplace only to attend virtual meetings all day. All this in the face of any of the supposed benefits of increased physical presence.”

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 (cell.), jfillion@pipsc.ca

 

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.

I heard President Jennifer Carr is on leave. Is this true?

Yes. Jennifer Carr has been on leave since the evening of April 10, 2024. Vice-President Eva Henshaw is now acting in her place.

Has President Jennifer Carr been suspended?

No. She has not been suspended or removed from her position, she has been on leave since the evening of April 10, 2024.

How long will Jennifer Carr be on leave?

Unfortunately, there is no concrete date or timeline. Jennifer Carr will be on leave for an indeterminate period. The Board of Directors continues to respect and follow due process and procedural fairness, as outlined and required by PIPSC bylaws and policies. This includes the policies on Conduct, President and Vice-Presidents, Board of Directors and the relevant procedural timelines provided therein. PIPSC will update members wherever and whenever possible. 

How was Eva Henshaw selected as Acting President?

As per Article 9.1 of Appendix 1 of the Policy on the President and Vice-President, the Executive Committee of the Board selected her:

“If, between meetings of the Board, the Office of the President becomes vacant indefinitely or due to a long-term absence, other than removal from office, the Executive Committee shall select from amongst themselves an Acting President to carry out the duties of the position until the next regular Board meeting.”

How long will Eva Henshaw be Acting President?

In the event the President is still on leave, the Board of Directors will, at its next regular meeting on May 3rd, 2024, affirm the selection of the Acting President or select another Vice-President as Acting President, as per article 9.2 in the Policy of the President and Vice-President. The Acting President will then continue to fulfill the duties of the position until the vacancy is filled by election.

Why is Jennifer Carr on leave?

We recognize the sensitive nature of this situation and want to be as transparent as possible. However, to protect due process and the integrity of the union, the Board of Directors must follow detailed procedures and processes. This includes strictly adhering to confidentiality and procedural fairness rules, as outlined in the Policy on the Board of Directors, as well as articles 2 and 4 of Appendix 2 of PIPSC Policy on the President and Vice-President. As such, we cannot provide any further details or comments at this time. We ask for and thank members in advance for their patience and confidence in our Board of Directors. It is this solidarity within our union that will help us get through this challenging time. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Jennifer Carr made a public statement on her Facebook page. Can you provide more details or respond to the information in her statement?

Unfortunately, no. As per PIPSC bylaws and policies on the Board of Directors, Conduct and the President and Vice-President, confidentiality must be maintained by all parties involved. To maintain the integrity of the process and our union's bylaws, we cannot comment further and we urge all parties to do the same.

How will this impact rank-and-file members?

It is important to note that this matter will not affect the daily operations of our union, or its members. The Board of Directors and staff are working together to ensure that all member services continue uninterrupted. We place the highest importance on member satisfaction and remain committed to providing the best service possible.

Who is Acting President Eva Henshaw?

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

I have other questions. Where do I send them?

We hope this FAQ provides answers to your questions. PIPSC is committed to due process and is bound by the rules that protect it, including confidentiality. However, if you have any questions not covered by these FAQs or would like to share some comments or concerns, please email them to feedback@pipsc.ca.

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