June 15, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario – Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat -- National Public Service Week is an opportunity to recognize Canada’s superior public service, which last year was assessed as the most effective in the world by the joint Oxford University and U.K. Institute for Government’s International Civil Service Effectiveness Index.

Canada’s federal public service earned this international recognition even as many employees continue to experience significant pay problems as a result of the failed Phoenix pay system.

No one should have to worry about being paid for their work. These pay problems are completely unacceptable. The Government of Canada is working on solutions to stabilize the existing pay system as quickly as possible and to develop options leading to the next generation system.

Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) and Treasury Board President Scott Brison, representing the Government of Canada, have announced today that they will collaborate using evidence to secure a new, transparent, accurate and integrated, end-to-end HR to pay system.

The government is committed to working with all of its public sector union partners. PIPSC is the second largest public service union and its representation of Government of Canada IT professionals provides a unique perspective on pay system challenges. We believe that public servants should pay public servants and we will work collaboratively to explore all options to ensure that our public service has the best system available.

Together we will develop a new sustainable system based on the principles learned from the errors of the past and drawing on the best ideas from around the world and the talents of our professional public service employees. We will keep a relentless focus on the end user – the public service employees of Canada.

We recognize the urgency of our common goal, which is why the government will continue to use all the resources and expertise of the public service to continue to stabilize the existing Phoenix system while working together to examine the best new path forward, in both the short term and longer term.  

Quotes

“Developing a next generation HR to pay system for Canada’s world class public service is an opportunity to learn from the lessons of past government-wide transformation projects. We look forward to working with our public service partners and following the evidence as we explore all options for providing the best user experience possible.”

      The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

"In order to ensure success in the development of a new federal pay system, it is critical that we engage the IT expertise of PIPSC members in the choice and development of a new federal pay system.  It's one of the fundamental lessons we believe should be drawn from the problems with the current system. We look forward to the opportunity to partner on a solution that works for all federal employees." 

      Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

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Contacts (media)

Jean-Luc Ferland

Media Relations
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-369-3163

Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Telephone: 613-369-9400

Toll-free: 1-855-TBS-9-SCT (1-855-827-9728)

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 613-369-9371

Email: media@tbs-sct.gc.ca

Johanne Fillion

Communications Officer

Telephone: 613-228-6310 ext. 4953

Cell: 613-228-9048/1-800-465-7477

E-mail: jfillion@pipsc.ca

Ottawa, May 28, 2018 -- The 2018 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, will be tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 29 May 2018. The Spring Reports include the Auditor General's second and much-awaited report on the Phoenix Pay System.

PIPSC President Debi Daviau will be available for comment.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada’s public sector.

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For further information:
Johanne Fillion (613) 228-6310 extension 4953 or (613) 883-4900 (cell)
 

NOTE:

The 2018 Spring Report 1 of the Auditor General of Canada — Building and Implementing the Phoenix Pay System:  The Office of the Auditor General examined whether the Phoenix pay system was fully tested, would deliver the functions needed to pay federal employees, was secure, and would protect employees’ private information. We also examined whether Public Services and Procurement Canada adequately supported selected departments and agencies in their move to Phoenix.

Source: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/mr_20180507_e_43017.html

Ottawa, April 17, 2018 – In a live town hall exchange today with members of the second-largest union of federal employees, PIPSC President Debi Daviau urged members to demand the government’s ministerial working group on Phoenix engage federal IT workers “at every stage” in building a new system.

“The government can't expect public servants to wait seven or eight more years before we get rid of Phoenix,” said Daviau. “Public service professionals are ready to lead the development of a functioning system.”

“The Phoenix fiasco is a direct result of wholesale contracting out – of choosing to completely bypass the skills and know-how of our professional public service,” said Daviau.

Last fall, PIPSC called on the government to forget Phoenix – configured by IBM Canada – and to replace it with a new system that works. In February, the government committed $16 million over two years to finding a replacement but says it will take up to a further six years to implement.

“We have been through two years of not being paid properly and they are asking us to potentially wait another six years,” added Daviau. “The answer can only be absolutely no. We will not wait that long.”

PIPSC maintains that, given the chance, federal IT professionals could significantly reduce the time needed to introduce a new system.

“We need to ensure the government is looking at every option available and that our IT community is engaged at every stage,” concluded Daviau.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents approximately 55,000 public service professionals across Canada, including some 13,000 IT experts, most of them employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

For further information:

Johanne Fillion, 613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

April 11, 2018, Ottawa, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Canadians are best served when government scientists can speak openly about their work.

Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, and Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, signed a joint letter emphasizing the freedom of publicly funded federal scientists to fully engage with each other and with Canadians on matters related to their research expertise.

Contacts

Jean-Luc Ferland
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-369-3163

Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
media@tbs-sct.gc.ca
613-369-9400
TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired)  613-369-9371

Ann Marie Paquet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
613-404-2377
ann-marie.paquet@canada.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

Media Relations
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Johanne Fillion
613-228-6310 ext. 4953
613-883-4900 (cell.)
jfillion@pipsc.ca

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Here is the joint letter.

Ottawa, March 28, 2018 - Earlier this year, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) conducted an internal survey asking 27,878 of its members entitled to a back pay to tell their union if the Phoenix pay system has correctly paid out what is commonly known within public service as retroactive pay.

Of the 7,726 survey respondents:

• Over 67% reported they can't be certain that their retroactive pay is correct.
• More than 9% were still waiting to receive their retroactive pay, a direct violation of their collective agreement.
• Only 1 in 5 reported that they received the correct payment.

The government - their employer - is bound by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act (FPSLRA) to implement the provisions of a new collective agreement within the period specified in the collective agreement (i.e. 120 days from the date of the signing of the collective agreement in the case of the AV, CS, RE, SH groups) and if no such period so specified in the collective agreement, within 90 days after it is signed in accordance with the FPSLRA.

Despite the government’s numerous guarantees that full, accurate retroactive pay would be paid on time, and despite our members best efforts, good will and patience, being without a contract agreement for close to three years, the Phoenix pay system has failed them again.

“Here is further proof, if any is needed, that Phoenix is blatantly not fit for the job. It can't be trusted to pay our members correctly and certainly can't be trusted to pay out the retroactive pay our members earned,” said Institute President Debi Daviau. “It's time for a new system that works. It's time to rebuild the trust that has been broken by Phoenix.” 

PIPSC represents some 57,000 public-sector scientists and other professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government.

For further information:

Johanne Fillion, (613) 228-6310 ext. 4953 or (613) 883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

BACKGROUND NOTE:

In the fall of 2017, the Institute had no choice but to file policy grievances on Phoenix-related issues, accusing the Treasury Board of failing to implement the terms of the Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP), Audit, Commerce & Purchasing (AV), Computer Systems (CS), Research (RE) and Health Services (SH) Group collective agreements within the specified timeframe (above). The Institute is asking the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) to order the Treasury Board to immediately implement the terms of these collective agreements, and to compensate employees for all losses, financial or otherwise, resulting from the breach of the agreements.

The survey was sent to 27,878 members eligible for retroactive pay from the AV, CS, RE and SP Groups. 7,726 members responded to survey.

Ottawa, March 7, 2018 – In advance of International Women’s Day, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has released a new report that examines the under-representation of women in public sector science and focuses on challenges faced by women pursuing science careers in the federal public service.

The report, titled  Women in Public Sector Science: From Analysis to Action, reveals concerns about gender bias, equality,  dependent care responsibilities, mentorship and leadership, and a diminishing concern for women’s rights.  The report is  based on findings from a 2017 survey of federal scientists and engineers who are PIPSC members.

“While more women than ever are pursuing careers in science, much work is left to be done to mitigate gender bias and break down the barriers women face in advancing their careers,” said PIPSC President Debi Daviau.

The survey found that:

• More women than men believe dependent care responsibilities are a barrier to their career progression;
• 42% of women believe that gender biases are a barrier to their career progression;
• 27% of women believe that men are favoured in opportunities for leadership roles;
• One in four women respondents said that lack of access to mentors was a major barrier to their career progression.

The Professional Institute is looking to influence change for women in science by:

• Conducting advocacy and activism campaigns aimed at new or better workplace legislation;
• Collective bargaining for new and better workplace rights;
• Developing and conducting awareness and education campaigns for PIPSC members; and
• Supporting consultation team presidents at union-management consultation for new and improved human resources policies.

Invitations to participate in the online survey, hosted by Environics Research, were sent to 16,377 federal scientists, engineers and researchers engaged in scientific work in over 40 federal departments and agencies. Of these, 3,025 (18%) responded between May 29 and June 27, 2017.  Read the full report.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

For further information:

Johanne Fillion

613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell)
jfillion@pipsc.ca

For Immediate Release                                                                                           

Ottawa, February 28, 2018 – Hundreds of members of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and other unions are gathering in Ottawa today to protest the inability of the federal government to Fix Phoenix.

The rally is being held from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in front of the government offices at 90 Elgin Street in Ottawa. Speakers include PIPSC President Debi Daviau; Robyn Benson, National President, PSAC; Chris Aylward, National Executive Vice-President, PSAC; and Greg Phillips, President, CAPE.

Budget 2018 committed $16M towards the building of an alternative pay system to replace the problem plagued Phoenix. “I see this as a glimmer of hope in a long two years of constant stress and financial worry for our members”, said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “We told them our members had lost confidence in Phoenix. We said Nix Phoenix - we deserve better and they have listened”.

The project promises to engage experts and unions in the development of a new system. PIPSC will work hard to ensure that our own government IT professionals are tasked with building a pay system that works.  

Budget 2018 also makes significant investments in the current system promising to hire more pay and compensation staff in the pay centre and within departments and agencies.  “We know that more people are needed to make the system work so we are worried that the funding appears to be only for a year” explained Daviau. The Institute remains concerned that the bulk of these funds may be going to Phoenix developer IBM. 

“Although we finally see a glimmer of hope when it comes to Phoenix we will be working hard to keep up the pressure. We won’t stop until all of our members come to expect to be paid correctly and on time – all of the time” said Daviau. 

Other rallies are also planned today across the country.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents approximately 55,000 public service professionals across Canada, including 13,000 federal IT professionals.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

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For further information:

Johanne Fillion

613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell)
jfillion@pipsc.ca

For Immediate Release

Ottawa, February 27, 2018 – “Our members have overwhelmingly said that Phoenix cannot be fixed and must be nixed; $16M to investigate an alternative to the Phoenix system is a good first step,” said Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).  “It is vital that any new system is built and operated by the government’s own computer systems professionals.” 

Today’s budget also saw a significant investment in the existing, problem-plagued pay system. The Institute remains concerned that the bulk of these funds may be going to Phoenix developer IBM. PIPSC is also disappointed that no funds were allocated to much-needed compensation or damages for the victims of Phoenix. 

“In fact, despite spectacular failures such as the Phoenix fiasco, which has left Canadian taxpayers on the hook for close to a billion dollars, this budget remains silent on reducing costly and wasteful outsourcing,” continued Daviau. “Though the Budget makes a number of commitments to ambitious digital service delivery improvements, for the sake of all Canadians we hope the government has learned from its failed IT projects of the past.  It must engage public servants, not consultants, in their design, testing and implementation.”

While the federal government’s latest Budget represents a step forward for gender equality in Canada by including commitments for pay equity and improved parental leave, and provides some much-needed investment in public science,  notably at the National Research Council, it still falls short of the Institute’s expectations on a number of fronts, such as reducing the government’s costly and wasteful reliance on outsourcing and ensuring tax fairness for all Canadians.

Major strides have been made to improve scientific integrity in Canada’s public service over the past few years, and this Budget continues with the government’s efforts to restore the scientific capacity within federal departments that was so badly damaged over the last decade. “The government is committing more funds to the National Research Council and investing in Canada’s scientific community,” said Daviau. “This is exactly what we have been looking for from the government for years. It‘s good for science and it’s good for Canada.”

Years of budget cuts have left our tax system in dire need of major investment. “While crackdowns on tax evasion and tax avoidance are positive steps forward, without long-term, sustained investment, the government will lack the resources to make a fairer tax system,” concluded Daviau.  

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)

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For further information:

Johanne Fillion (613) 228-6310 ext 2303 (office) or (613) 883-4900 (cell.)
jfillion@pipsc.ca

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                               For Immediate Release

Attention News/Assignment Editors:

PIPSC President Available for Comments Following Release of 2018 Federal Budget

OTTAWA, February 26, 2018 – Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) will be available on February 27, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. onwards in Room 253-D, Railway Committee Room, Centre Block to provide comment on the 2018 federal budget.

When:       Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 4 p.m.

Where:     Railway Committee Room (253-D), Centre Block, Parliament Hill

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).

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For further information:            

Johanne Fillion, (613) 228-6310 ext. 4953 or (613) 883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

Pierre Villon, (613) 228-6310 ext. 4928 or (613) 794-9369 (cell), pvillon@pipsc.ca