Protests in support of the Wet'suwet'en people are taking place across the country. These protests have been escalating in British Columbia and Ottawa.

We support the right to protest guaranteed by the Charter, and the safety and well-being of our members is very important.

As a PIPSC member working in areas where a protest may be occurring, here is what you need to know:

• You have the right to refuse to work or cross a picket line in the event you are unable to safely access your workplace and/or safely perform your duties.
• Please do not confront protesters or place your safety at risk.
• If you have any concerns about your safety, please immediately contact both your supervisor and a PIPSC steward in your workplace for accurate information about how to proceed.
• In the event that you are unable to safely access your workplace and/or safely perform your duties and your employer refuses to pay you for missed hours, please contact a steward.

If you have any questions or concerns your stewards are here to help. If you are unable to reach a steward, please contact an Employment Relations Officer. 

We have made clear to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki that we oppose any efforts to move RCMP civilian members to the failed Phoenix pay system.

Despite our clear and repeated objections, the Commissioner still intends to move our new members onto Phoenix.

We will not back down.

We are now taking our fight to the Treasury Board President and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement. We are calling all PIPSC members to take action now and make our opposition clear.

 Take action

Join PIPSC members across the country and email Minister Duclos, Minister Anand, and the RCMP Commissioner demanding that the transfer of our new members to Phoenix be stopped.

For four years, PIPSC members have been underpaid, overpaid or not paid at all as a result of the failed Phoenix system.

This month, the personal information of over 69,000 public servants with Phoenix pay issues was mistakenly shared with over 200 government employees in 62 departments across the federal public service.

This significant breach of confidentiality is unacceptable.

The procurement process for a new pay system is underway, but PIPSC members continue to deal with the serious personal consequences of this failed pay system.

For more information on Phoenix pay issues please visit https://pipsc.ca/phoenix

We stand in solidarity with the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF).

The Ford government’s reckless cuts to public education are already impacting classrooms:

• reduced support for students with special education needs and mental health issues
• overcrowded classrooms
• mandatory e-learning courses for high school students

Just as we have seen in the public health system, the Ford government is pulling resources out of the public education system and laying the groundwork for private interests to profit from our students’ education. We must fight back.

We encourage students, parents and all labour activists to join education unions on the picket lines to send a strong message to the government that they must stop the cuts that hurt kids.

All four Ontario teachers’ unions, representing nearly 200,000 teachers and education workers, are holding a one-day province-wide strike on February 21. Nearly 200,000 teachers and education workers will strike across 72 school boards, affecting nearly 5,000 schools across the province in protest of the government funding cuts to education.

We must fight back against the Ford government’s attack on workers.

We are proud to join eleven Ontario unions representing more than 250,000 provincial public sector employees in a coordinated Charter challenge against Bill 124. This unconstitutional legislation would allow the provincial government to impose salary caps, including for pensions and benefits, on a variety of unionized and non-unionized public sector workplaces.

We must fight in solidarity with education unions to protect public education.
 

Over the past few days, the media has reported illnesses among federal employees working at the Terrasses de la Chaudière office complex in Gatineau. The government has hired an engineering firm to investigate the numerous air and water quality, and mould and insect issues reported by public service employees located in these facilities.

In addition to the health hazards currently under scrutiny, many older federal facilities throughout Canada are also filled with asbestos. Even newer buildings are known to suffer from leaking and other issues.

"The inexcusable state of federal buildings across the country is an extremely concerning situation that can only be corrected by a long-term, and expensive, commitment on the part of the government," says Debi Daviau, PIPSC President.

We took part in employer consultations about the state of affairs at the Terrasses complex and we will continue to keep a very close watch on the situation.

"But no matter where they are located, PIPSC members must under no circumstances be exposed to unhealthy and hazardous work environments," continued Daviau.

"I expect the government to take immediate and decisive action to address these issues, no matter the cost. This could include moving employees to uncontaminated locations while renovations to their offices take place or providing them with greater flexibility to work from home until problems are resolved. I’m tired of short-term solutions and I want to see a detailed plan from the government right away."

As consultations continue, we will keep members informed about new developments.

Eddy Carmack is a retired PIPSC member who has received many awards for his work in oceanography, especially related to climate change and northern climate science. He has received the Officer of the Order of Canada award for 2020.

The Order of Canada is part of the Canadian Honours System that recognizes the outstanding contributions of Canadians to their community, and their service to the nation. Officers of the Order of Canada are individuals who are beyond exceptional in their contributions to Canadians. 

As an oceanographer and northern climate expert, Eddy has contributed a great deal of knowledge and research that helps us understand climate trends today. During his career, he participated in over 90 field investigations in the Antarctic, Arctic, Yukon and Siberia where he collaborated with other researchers from around the world. 

He is the 2007 Massey medalist of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, and the 2010 Tully medalist for the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, among many other awards and accomplishments. 

In his retirement, he researches the Northwest Passage and BC waters from his own small vessel. 

We are proud of PIPSC members like Eddy. 

Every day, public servants give their best at work to make a difference in the lives of Canadians, and they deserve the best in return. From food and agriculture to oceanography and climate science, our public service makes the world a better place — and we have people like Eddy to thank for it. 

Congratulations, Eddy! 

READ MORE ABOUT PIPSC MEMBERS

Your union is turning 100 years old! That means 100 years of history, progress and hard work serving Canadians.

We know that every day, you give 100%. You’re part of a unique community of 60 000 members who are leading progress: fighting for equal pay and human rights, protecting whistleblowers, guaranteeing strong pensions, ensuring scientific integrity, tax fairness, public safety and more. We are proud to defend the services Canadians rely on. 

Tell us why you’re proud to be a PIPSC member (minimum 50 words).

All regular PIPSC members and retired members are eligible for a chance to win a $250 gift card from ServicePlus to The Brick.

The contest is now closed.

Each year the Treasury Board undertakes the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES). In 2019, a total of 182,306 employees in 86 federal departments and agencies responded to the survey. Sixty-two percent of public servants responded.

Harassment remains a serious issue in the federal public service. The results of the 2019 Public Service Employee Survey indicate no significant changes in levels of harassment in the workplace.

Most concerning, levels of harassment of gender diverse people remain very high. Twenty-nine percent of gender diverse people indicate that they had experienced harassment in their workplace. This is more than double the rate of harassment experienced by people identified as women or men.

This is unacceptable. Every person deserves a workplace safe from harassment and the federal government should be setting the standard for the private sector. 

Only 51% of respondents to the survey were satisfied with how harassment is resolved in their department. Of gender diverse respondents only 32% were satisfied with how harassment is resolved in their department. 

Forty-five percent of individuals identifying as gender diverse would not describe their workplaces as promoting psychological wellness. 

We are sounding the alarm - gender diverse public servants deserve stronger protections and safe workplaces. 

Each year the Treasury Board undertakes the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES). In 2019, a total of 182,306 employees in 86 federal departments and agencies responded to the survey. Sixty-two percent of public servants responded. 

Year to year, we highlight for you the trends in workplace harassment, wellness, and Phoenix.

Workplace harassment

Harassment in the federal public service persists as a significant and largely unaddressed problem. We are extremely concerned with the high levels of harassment reported by gender diverse people. Twenty-nine percent of gender diverse survey respondents indicate that they had experienced harassment in their workplace.

Reports of harassment overall are declining, but very slowly.

Only 51% of all respondents to the PSES are satisfied with how harassment is resolved in their department.

Psychological wellness

Sixty-one percents of respondents describe their workplace as promoting psychological wellness and actively working to prevent harm to employee psychological health. An increase of 3% from 2018.

This still means that a shocking 39% of public servants do not find that their workplaces are promoting psychological wellness. 

Significantly, 45% of individuals identifying as gender diverse do not describe their workplaces as promoting psychological wellness.

Phoenix

The news with respect to the Phoenix Pay System continues to disappoint.

Four percent more public servants reported being impacted by Phoenix last year than in the previous year. That’s 74% of public servants impacted by Phoenix in 2019.

Over half of respondents to the PSES who experienced a Phoenix issue have not had their issues resolved. Only 44% of respondents report that all pay and compensation issues have been resolved. A 9% improvement from 2018. 

Sixty percent of respondents are not satisfied with the support they receive related to pay issues.

Compare this year’s results with our analysis from 2018.