November 8th and 9th, 2024, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto, Ontario.

ONLINE REGISTRATION 

August 19th to September 20th, 2024 – Once notified as having been selected to attend the PIPSC AGM 2024, all Delegates and Virtual Observers have to complete the online registration form. Please note that the deadline for registration will be strictly enforced.

DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS 

Group Presidents and Regional Directors must submit their list of approved Delegates/Alternates and Virtual Observers using this form by 5:00 PM EST on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Once the lists are received, the National Office will communicate with each Delegate/Virtual Observer by e-mail inviting them to register online. Please note that Delegates/Virtual Observers will not be able to register until an approved list has been received, reviewed and verified from the Groups and from the Regions. 

The number of delegates for the AGM is defined in By-Law 13 and in accordance with the delegate count.

SUBSTITUTION DEADLINES

The deadline for any changes to a delegate's participation status is Thursday, October 31, 2024.

In-Person Delegates:

If an in-person delegate chooses to switch their participation from in-person to virtual, they must notify the AGM team by Thursday, October 31, 2024. 

If an in-person delegate must cancel their AGM participation entirely, they must notify the AGM team by Thursday, October 31, 2024. A Group or Regional Executive can then promote or appoint an alternate in-person delegate.

If an in-person delegate cancels less than one week prior to the start of the AGM (after Thursday, October 31, 2024), no alternate will be permitted to register for in-person participation.

Virtual Delegates:

If a virtual delegate must cancel their AGM participation entirely, they must notify the AGM team by Friday, September 27, 2024. A Group or Regional Executive can promote or appoint an alternate virtual or in-person delegate.

If a virtual delegate must cancel their AGM participation entirely, but misses the Friday September 27, 2024 deadline for cancellation, a Group or Regional Executive can only promote or appoint a virtual delegate up until Thursday, October 31, 2024.

If a virtual delegate cancels their participation less than one week prior to the AGM (after Thursday, October 31, 2024) no alternate will be permitted to register.

CHANGES TO INSTITUTE BY-LAWS

By-Law 13.1.4.1 states "No By-Law shall be enacted, repealed or amended by a General Meeting unless details of proposed changes were submitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary no later than twelve (12) weeks prior to a General Meeting." Proposed amendments to the Institute By-Laws must be submitted by August 16, 2024, by email at resolutions@pipsc.ca .

RESOLUTIONS

By-Law 13.1.4.3 states "Resolutions, in writing, must be received at the Office of the Executive Secretary not less than twelve (12) weeks before the commencement of a General Meeting." Resolutions must be submitted by August 16, 2024 by email at resolutions@pipsc.ca .

AGM resolutions are first received by the Resolutions Sub-Committee (RSC).

The mandate of the RSC is to consolidate, monitor and clarify resolutions for submission to the AGM. The RSC is available to help and to provide advice to sponsors regarding wording to ensure clarity and compliance with Institute By-Laws and Policies. If there is a cost associated with resolutions (financial resolutions), sponsors should submit related numbers with their resolution, for review by the RSC.

To assist in the process of writing resolutions, please refer to the pocket guide “Write that Resolution”. 

INSTITUTE FEES

Pursuant to By-Law 14.2.1, which governs fees, notice is hereby given that a change in the basic monthly fee may be proposed at the 2024 Annual General Meeting.

TRAVEL, MEETINGS & EVENTS CONSIDERATIONS

We are making every effort to be conscious of both our fiscal and political responsibilities at this year’s AGM. Costs related to the in-person event are being managed through member consultation and  rigorous evaluation. We’re examining ways to deliver a high quality member experience with cost containment measures in place. The Annual General Meeting exemplifies “presence with purpose”. As the supreme governing body of PIPSC, the AGM  not only provides members with the ability to conduct important union business, but also to connect and learn together. We look forward to the opportunities this in-person event provides, as we unite for positive change.

For travel to/from airports or train stations, we will be providing delegates with an Uber promo code that can be used to cover the cost of your transportation. If you are uncomfortable using Uber, you can still be reimbursed for taxi transportation.

You will be able to access all AGM information and resources through both the AGM mobile app and PIPSC website using your own device. Tablets will not be available for use at this year’s AGM as part of our cost containment measures. We thank you for your understanding.

Delegates of the PIPSC AGM 2024 can refer to the travel policy

Members are invited to apply for the PIPSC Member Facilitator Training Program. This exciting new program gives members (with or without facilitation skills) a chance to become a Member Facilitator.

Accepted applicants will have the opportunity to receive hands-on training to learn to deliver workshops using a popular education approach.

Participating in the program will help you:

• Strengthen our union
• Connect with other activists
• Develop and enhance your communication and facilitation skills
• Support member education

Training for successful applicants will be held from Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 20 in Ottawa. The training will be held in English.

The application process takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Application forms are due Sunday, July 14 at 11:59pm ET

Your responses are strictly confidential. Your information will only be seen by the PIPSC Training, Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Committee and the PIPSC Education Staff.

Please note that applying does not guarantee acceptance into the program, given the limited number of available spots.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at education@pipsc.ca

Member Facilitator Program 2024 Frequently Asked Question

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

The 105th annual general meeting will take place Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2024 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto, Ontario.

More information on the AGM and delegate selection process to come.

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.