The Treasury Board has announced that a claims office will open this week to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses public servants have incurred due to problems with the Phoenix pay system.

"I'm glad that our advocacy has resulted in real action," said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. "Some of our members have had to go into debt just to make ends meet. Hard working public service professionals should not be paying the price for the failure of the new pay system.”

Daviau first wrote to the Hon. Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, earlier this summer asking that a system of reimbursement be set up to compensate public servants financially hit by the disastrous Phoenix pay system. She reiterated this demand in August when she appeared before the parliamentary committee studying the problems with the pay system.

What we know to date is that the claims office is designed to reimburse people as quickly as possible and departments will have the authority to pay any claims under $500. Larger and more complex claims will go to the Treasury Board to be settled.

Claim forms and Frequently Asked Questions are available on the Treasury Board website, as well other Phoenix-related information. PIPSC will work to file grievances if we are unhappy with the settlements offered. PIPSC will remain vigilant to ensure this claims office meets members’ needs and will use forums such as the new joint union-management committee on Phoenix to raise concerns.

We will keep members posted on further details of the claims office as they become available.

"We will continue to work together to find solutions and get our members the help and protections they deserve," said Daviau.

Dear Members,

As we near the six-month anniversary of the ill-fated phase-in of the new Phoenix pay system, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the work we have been doing to help individuals affected by pay problems and to find collective solutions to the situation we continue to find ourselves in.

As your President, I am committed to exploring every way possible to pressure the government for solutions and to help those faced with hardship due to the Phoenix pay system. Since my last update, I have met several times with senior members of the Treasury Board and Public Services and Procurement Canada. I also met recently with both Treasury Board President Scott Brison and PSPC Minister Judy Foote. These were productive meetings but we nevertheless will continue to find ways to pressure the government into finding short and long term solutions.

We are still escalating critical cases to the Treasury Board and department heads and, as mentioned previously, urge that you contact your regional office to notify one of our Employment Relations Officers if you are experiencing any problems with your pay.

I would particularly like to take this opportunity to highlight for you a joint effort we have undertaken with other federal public sector unions to demand action on a number of key problems.

Collectively, we have raised serious concerns with affected members’ access to the Public Service Health Care Plan, including delayed access, inability to make amendments, and issues when leaving or on leave from the public service. We also reiterated our serious concern about the impacts to members on Long Term Disability. And, to mention only a few other issues, we raised the flag when it came to problems processing new hires, leaves (e.g., parental or maternity), pension deductions, salary adjustments, allowances, acting pay, return to work, overtime, department changes, union leave, taxation errors and, in general, inaccuracies on pay slips. The issue of problems with security clearances and credit rating problems due to Phoenix is another issue of concern to us.

We are also pleased to report that after much pressure from PIPSC and other unions, the Treasury Board will be opening a claims office where public servants can file requests for compensation for out-of-pocket expenses. As indicated by Deputy Minister Marie Lemay in her September 7 update, we hope to see the office up and running within the week.

It goes without saying that again I offer my deepest gratitude to our hardworking PIPSC stewards, consultation representatives, elected officials and staff that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help members navigate a cumbersome process, get help and, ultimately, solve their pay issues.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau
President

This month Canadian university, college and high school students return to classes, many of them to pursue studies towards a profession. Some of these students worked for the federal government over the summer, and like many other federal public service employees were seriously impacted by the problems afflicting the Phoenix pay system.

Early last month, PIPSC offered its assistance to these students, providing guidance on accessing support from the Miramichi pay centre and even passing along to Treasury Board and other senior officials especially urgent cases we felt the government should expedite. As the month rolled on and no lasting solution to either members’ or students’ pay problems appeared evident, we continued to apply pressure to the government, especially as the end-of-August deadline for student tuition payments loomed.

On August 25, we wrote to Public Services and Procurement Canada, following Deputy Minister Marie Lemay’s then-most recent report on efforts taken to address Phoenix pay problems, and asked for details on the ministry’s progress dealing with student pay problems. We were informed that, as of August 24, 90% of student cases had been resolved and that by September 7 the remaining 10% would be settled.

We are very proud to have provided some small help to those students who have suffered as a result of the problems with the Phoenix pay system and hope that their experience has not soured them on hopes and ambitions of eventually pursuing a career in the federal public service.

We express our solidarity with these students and our very best wishes for their success in the coming year. We also of course express our hope that the federal government will soon recognize the lesson to be learned from outsourcing and under-resourcing basic public and employment services.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau
President

 Phoenix makes international headlines

Dear Members,

The Phoenix pay system continues to pose major problems for our members in the federal government. PIPSC remains committed to looking for ways to assist individual members as well as to work with senior public servants and elected officials to find solutions.

On Friday, August 19, I met with Minister Judy Foote, Public Works and Procurement Canada. I related our members’ continued problems with the system and even raised new issues we see emerging. The Minister listened and expressed deep concern and awareness of the issue. I repeated that our top priority is to ensure that payment to our members is expedited.

I specifically stated that lack of emergency pay for many of our members was unacceptable and that more department-specific solutions are required. If someone needs to have a cheque issued manually to them, then the employer should find a way to arrange this.

On Thursday, August 18, our members in Newfoundland and Labrador participated in a demonstration outside Minister Foote’s office in St. John’s along with representatives from other federal public sector unions, demanding immediate action. We thank them for taking the time on behalf of all public servants to voice their concerns.

As many are aware PIPSC has also been finding ways to assist students who have been disproportionately affected by problems with the pay system. We have reached out and assisted many who are fearful they will not have the funds to cover their tuition due at the end of this month. We raised this issue with the Minister and senior officials Friday and were assured they are working very hard to fix the problem. We will continue to work with students until we also see their issues resolved.

The Phoenix pay system we fear is yet another example of a failed outsourced IT “modernization” strategy rooted in a motivation to cut costs rather than improve services. We have now seen this scenario repeated a few times – e.g., the federal government’s e-mail consolidation and website renewal, to mention only two. We will continue to press the new government not to repeat the mistakes of the previous government and, instead, to properly plan and resource their projects.

My main message to the government has been they should have asked our members to carry out the testing and implementation of Phoenix and that they should reach out now to their workforce to help solve ongoing problems. Further, the government needs to consider what our members have to say about their plans at the outset of future projects if they want to avoid such catastrophic failures in the future.

In closing, I wish to express my deep appreciation for all the work consultation Presidents and other PIPSC leaders, stewards, volunteers and staff are doing to help members through this dire situation. Thank you!

Debi Daviau
President

1. I haven’t been paid since I started. What should I do?
   • We trust you have initiated steps to attempt to resolve this matter, but if not, you should first check if your department is served by the Pay Centre. If it is, ask your manager if all the necessary paperwork has been sent to the Pay Centre (letter of offer, the employee questionnaire, a completed and signed oath, income tax forms, and a completed Direct Deposit enrolment form). You can request “priority pay” from your Department (see Priority Schedule for Resolving Employee Pay Issues). You can also request an Emergency Salary Advance. Your case will be escalated if you have not received your regular pay within 21 days from the first or last day of work (see Service Standards, Pay Centre Escalation Process).
2. I submitted a Pay Action Request, now what?
   • You should have received a confirmation number after submitting a PAR. If your pay issue has not been resolved, we suggest contacting us to work with the Client Satisfaction Bureau on your behalf. Please see contact information below.
3. What recourse do I have?
   • Most students are not in a unionized position, but some are. This is sometimes indicated in your letter of offer of employment. If you are, contact your union steward to discuss options. If you are not, PIPSC is readily available as a resource to help you with pay-related concerns. Please see contact information below.

For further assistance, contact Catherine Wright, Labour Relations Associate, by email at: cwright@pipsc.ca, or phone: 613-228-6310 x 4742.

Sample Language

Below are examples of language that could be used for submitting written requests to your direct manager regarding pay issues.

No Pay

Dear ,
I was not paid for the period of (DATES). I have contacted the Pay Centre and have been unsuccessful in attempting to have the matter corrected in a timely manner. This situation is causing me financial problems and stress. I request that my case be referred to the Pay Centre with Priority 1 status, and that the Employer immediately correct my pay system issue.
Sincerely,

Incorrect / Incomplete Pay

Dear ,
My pay of (DATE) was not properly calculated and the amount deposited in my bank account was inaccurate. I have contacted the Pay Centre and have been unsuccessful in attempting to have the matter corrected in a timely manner. This situation is causing me financial problems and stress. I request that the Employer immediately correct my pay system issue.
Sincerely,

Seeking Reimbursement for Incurred Costs and/or Lost Interest:

If you have incurred costs as a result of your pay being delayed or withheld, we suggest writing your direct manager to request reimbursement of these costs. Below is an example of such a request:

Dear ,

I was (NOT PAID and/or MY PAY WAS INCORRECT) for the period of (DATES). I have contacted the Pay Centre and have been unsuccessful in attempting to have the matter corrected in a timely manner. This situation is causing me financial problems and stress.

Specifically, I have incurred undue costs of $____ to (DATE) by way of interest on (LOAN / LINE OF CREDIT / CREDIT CARD / ETC.) payments, which otherwise would have been mitigated by the timely disbursement of my pay. I have also lost interest on contributions to savings accounts which otherwise would have been made. I request that I be reimbursed for these costs and any future costs. I am prepared to provide evidence of these losses on a confidential basis.
Sincerely,

For Immediate Release

OTTAWA, August 4, 2016 - The union of public service professionals is offering help to students in the federal public service who are facing Phoenix pay problems.

"Students in the federal public service are some of the most vulnerable victims of the Phoenix pay problems," said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. "They often have student loans to deal with, little savings to tap into or lines of credit to rely on. Worse still, as non-unionized workers, they don't have much support in dealing with the impact of Phoenix pay problems."

The union will offer tips and advice on how to pursue a resolution to Phoenix cases. It will refer critical cases to the government for prioritized resolution.

Students facing Phoenix pay problems are invited to contact the union through a webform.

"At a time when the government should be attracting a new generation of professionals to the public service, this terrible experience with Phoenix is a problem," said Daviau. "We hope our initiative can alleviate some of the pain caused by Phoenix."

PIPSC represents some 55,000 public-sector scientists and other professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

- 30 -

For further information:
Johanne Fillion
(613) 228-6310 ext 4953 (office) (613) 883-4900 (cell) jfillion@pipsc.ca

PIPSC is reaching out to students hard hit by the federal government’s Phoenix pay problems

by offering guidance and advice on navigating the government’s existing processes to ensure they get paid. While we cannot represent these young workers, we do feel it is vital to offer what assistance we can to the next generation of federal public service employees. This assistance in no way interferes with the assistance we are currently offering members faced with similar problems.

Members who know of students facing Phoenix pay problems are encouraged to direct these student workers to www.pipsc.ca/students for assistance. No one’s work should go unpaid.

We have created a poster to promote this initiative in your worksite. You can download it here or request copies from HelpDesk@pipsc.ca.

Better Together!

Debi Daviau
President

Download the poster

For Immediate Release

OTTAWA, July 28, 2016 – PIPSC President Debi Daviau will attend the emergency committee meeting on Phoenix today on Parliament Hill at 2 p.m.

"Public service professionals expect to see a deadline for resolution of the Phoenix problem," said Daviau. "People are having a hard time making ends meet. They're going into debt. They can't pay their mortgages. Their credit rating is taking a hit. They need to know when they can put this problem behind them."

Daviau urges the committee to also seek answers to the following questions:

• Why is emergency pay not being processed faster?
• How did a so-called off the shelf product get approved without adequate testing?
• To what extent was the testing and implementation of this transition outsourced to IBM or other companies?
• Was there a contingency plan in place if Phoenix failed?

Daviau will be available for media interviews following the committee meeting.

PIPSC represents some 55,000 public-sector scientists and other professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc)

- 30 -

For further information: Johanne Fillion (613) 228-6310 ext 4953 (office) or (613) 883-4900 (cell) jfillion@pipsc.ca.

The Parliamentary Committee on Government Operations will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday, July 28, 2016, 2-4 p.m. to discuss the Phoenix Pay System. The Committee meeting will stream live from http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca

Click on OGGO Meeting No 24.

(This link will take you to an external website. Please note some employers may restrict access to external websites.)