President Debi Daviau will be hosting a telephone town hall for federal public servants on Thursday, June 18. She’ll discuss how COVID-19 has affected the work of federal public servants, what PIPSC has been advocating for, and where we go from here.
We’ll be answering your questions about plans to return to the workplace, health and safety, and other pandemic-related issues live on the call.
Please join us for one of the following telephone town halls:
On June 21 we will mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, an occasion for us all to celebrate the cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
Summer Solstice is the time of year when many Indigenous groups celebrate their culture and heritage. It’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding and awareness of the unique adversities that Indigenous Peoples face and have overcome.
We encourage you to take action at home now to support Indigenous Peoples:
Research whose land you are on: the Whose Land tool will show you which colonized land you are occupying.
Support Indigenous businesses and services: find a local business where you can shop online or in person, following social distancing rules.
Attend virtual National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations: with family, friends and colleagues, check out summersolsticefestivals.ca for some great ideas.
Research Indigenous Peoples history and cultures: learn about their unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.
Canada has committed to a process of Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, this requires that we all do our part.
If you’d like to learn more please contact Greg Scriver, Canadian Labour Congress Indigenous Representative atgscriver@pipsc.ca.
LGBTQ2+ communities and allies have begun digital events to mark Pride 2020 - we want to amplify your voices.
Pride events across the country have been moved from our streets to the internet, but we are just as proud as ever. And when the time is right, we’ll all be back together, shoulder to shoulder, fighting for inclusive and safe communities.
Share your pictures with us using #PIPSCpride on Facebook and Twitter or email us at bettertogether@pipsc.ca by June 25.
We’ll reshare to amplify your voice, your message, your Pride event!
When you share your photos, we’ll put your name in a draw to win artwork from a Canadian LGBTQ2+ artist.
We are in no rush to have members return to the worksite until every precaution necessary has been taken and health authorities believe it is safe to do so.
PIPSC has been in discussions with the Treasury Board Secretariat on guidelines for returning to the workplace for several weeks. There is still no date for that return.
We don't see the reason to throw caution to the wind and return members to the workplace when they've been so productive working from home. It's a virtual world and federal public servants have proven their ability to be productive while working remotely.
Under no circumstance will we stand for compromised safety and that may mean it will take some time for you to return to the workplace. It also requires departments to be transparent and to work with our representatives on their plans to open up worksites.
If we don't feel confident that adequate health and safety measures have been put in place, such as distancing requirements and sanitation of common spaces like bathrooms and kitchens, or even the safety of ventilation systems and workspace airflow we will be pushing back.
For those of you who have been in the workplace this entire time, on the frontlines, we’re going to continue to push for adequate PPE and ensure you can refuse work if it is unsafe.
For parents, balancing work and childcare has been especially stressful. To mitigate the strain on families, the leave code 699 must be available while daycares and schools remain closed, voluntary or limited.
In areas where schools and daycares have reopened, families that do not feel comfortable sending their children should continue to have access to the leave code. We are calling for the short term flexible use of Code 699 to remain in place until the start of the new school year, to allow time for any negotiations required.
We will fight to ensure you have the leave you need made available. You shouldn’t have to choose between a pay cheque and taking care of your kids!
It goes without saying, that the employer must respect the collective agreements and all applicable legislation. And we will be identifying potential temporary measures, beyond existing collective agreement provisions, to adapt to the new reality of COVID-19.
This may mean finding opportunities to test innovative flexible work solutions. There might not be a one-size fits all solution in the future. A solution at one worksite may not be a solution in another, as regional, occupational and site specific facility requirements vary greatly. Whatever your situation, we will be here to help!
Philippe always wanted to be a chemist when he was a kid. Changing particles and experimenting with solutions always sparked his interest.
Little did he know, he would become an engineer for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), which would lead to exciting space innovations. Although he doesn’t work with chemistry every day, he loves his job.
“My main role is to look at special projects at the CSA to ensure all of the project parameters are being respected,” he says. “This allows me to assure Canadians that all the projects are responding to their needs.”
Philippe often works on space projects launching and monitoring satellites that provide us with important navigation data. These satellites enable increasingly accurate GPS and other radar systems whether you’re hiking, biking or commuting.
He enjoys working with his team to ensure public science is improving the quality of space technology.
Philippe is also a PIPSC steward. He helps his colleagues understand their collective agreements, and is there to support his coworkers when they are having issues at work.
He says one of the great privileges of being a union member is having access to the technology and resources he needs to do his best.
“At the space agency, we are privileged to have access to special programs and resources that we need,” he says.
When it comes to work-life balance, Philippe also appreciates the security that being a union member provides.
“Being part of an institution like PIPSC allows us to have proper representation for good working conditions,” he says. “In the last round of bargaining, the union was able to secure a wellness package that addresses workplace violence, which is security we wouldn’t have without PIPSC.”
Working in a healthy and safe environment ensures Philippe and his team can confidently do the work that’s important to Canadians.
He recognizes that research is important for our leadership in space technology. Specifically, the RADARSAT Constellation project at the CSA works to improve ship navigation and detection for the national defence of Canada.
“What I’m most proud of in my career is being placed at the centre of satellite operations at the space agency,” he says. “It’s a project that’s taken many years. We have undertaken many operations and launched satellites that have collectively improved our work on RADARSAT Constellation.”
Every day, Philippe and his team work in the public interest to ensure the progress of space innovation — leading the way to a brighter future and greater access to reliable technology for all Canadians.
OTTAWA, June 5, 2020 – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), is calling on the Ontario government to fix the glaring errors with their pandemic pay plan, and include front-line Radiation Therapists treating vulnerable patients in Ontario’s Cancer Centres throughout the pandemic.
“We are extremely proud of our radiation therapists working on the front lines during this pandemic,” said President Debi Daviau. They have been exposed to COVID-19 in their workplaces. They’re risking their lives — and the lives of their families.”
Just like other healthcare workers deemed eligible for pandemic pay, radiation therapists are subject to the same requirements of the Ontario state of emergency. They are essential workers who cannot refuse to treat patients who are suspected or confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. They are taking all precautions possible including constant use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Ontario Hospital Association, many hospital CEOs, and employer and employee organizations have called for the pandemic pay to be expanded to all front-line hospital workers, but those pleas to the Ford government have gone unanswered.
“This isn’t just about the pay,” said Daviau. “It’s also a matter of respect and recognition for the critical services provided by these workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Cancer patients are a vulnerable population during this pandemic. The decision is beyond disappointing and upsetting for our members who have continued to treat at risk patients throughout this crisis. They deserve the same recognition as the other professionals in the hospitals who have been granted the pay.”
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada, including radiation therapists at Juravinski Cancer Centre, Walker Family Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook, Thunder Bay and Windsor facilities. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
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For further information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (cell),jfillion@pipsc.ca
The Federal Black Employee Caucus (FBEC) seeks to address public servants' concerns of anti-Black racism and lack of career progression. PIPSC has participated in these events and joined advocacy efforts to identify and remove barriers that prevent any public servant from fully participating in the workplace and fulfilling their goals.
FBEC is launching a survey to better understand the experiences of Black federal public service employees. The results will be used to inform the FBEC’s diversity and inclusion work pertaining to career progression within the federal workplace. Norma Domey, B.Sc., M.Sc., DTM, PIPSC National Vice President, represents our members in her work with the FBEC Union Advisory Committee.
This is the first time a survey will focus on Black and African diaspora employees within the Canadian federal public service.
If you are Black or from the African diaspora and a federal public service employee, we encourage you to support this work by completing the survey.
This week, we have witnessed the devastating impact of anti-Black racism.
Too many people and communities in Canada continue to experience racism and injustice. Our Human Rights and Diversity Committee (HRDC) is working to address issues surrounding the Black community within the public service.
PIPSC should be a safe place and a place of inclusion. This can only happen when we individually and collectively take action to disrupt and dismantle the systems that perpetuate racism and oppression.
PIPSC and the Human Rights and Diversity Committee commit to this work and to actively engage in the listening, learning and collaboration necessary to build a better way forward together.
“Black PIPSC members have reached out to me sharing their experiences of racism both at work and in our union. They’ve reacted in shock as I’ve shared my own many years of confronting this same anti-black racism. We have to support each other and know that we are not responsible for this injustice,” said PIPSC Human Rights and Diversity Committee Chair, Jennie Esnard. “We are a caring community and we must remember to reach out and support each other; we must acknowledge that what is happening is not okay; and we must remain committed to speaking out against racism in all its forms.”
We have a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. We acknowledge that we have work to do within our system. We are committed to challenging ourselves to examine privilege and question how we can make changes to eliminate racism from within our system. We are committed to creating a place where everyone has an opportunity to learn and work in spaces of respect and belonging.
