Updates

On November 16, the government provided an update on the Phoenix pay system. We learned that there are still a lot of problems to deal with.

“Our priority remains getting public service workers paid correctly and on-time. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National Executive Vice-President. “The government should have listened to us from the beginning. We told them not to go ahead with the new pay system, but now, it’s time to move forward. We want to help the government fix Phoenix so that our members can be made whole.”

Public service workers waiting for changes

The government confirmed that it is two months – or 200,000 cases – behind in processing “pay transactions” under the new Phoenix pay system.

Currently, defined-benefit (DB) pensions provide stability and security to employees because employers are legally obliged to fund employees’ earned benefits. Already earned benefits are legally protected. Bill C-27 removes employers’ legal requirements to fund plan benefits, which means that benefits could be reduced going forward or even retroactively. Even people already retired could find their existing benefits affected, after paying in their entire working lives.

The bill would also invite employers to establish inferior, less-secure target-benefit (TB) plans, and persuade individual members to give up their DB benefits in exchange for the new plan.

On November 20, Trans Day of Remembrance, we commemorate the transgender people we have lost and honour those who continue to endure violence, hatred and discrimination in our communities and in our workplaces.

After years of hard work and advocacy by trans Canadians and their allies, we are hopeful that trans rights will finally be enshrined in Canadian human rights law.

The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a British Columbia teachers’ union in a case that will impact public sector labour relations across Canada.

“This is an important victory for public sector unions across the country,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President. “Once again, the highest court has confirmed that we have a right to fair and free collective bargaining.”

PSAC and other public sector unions appeared before the court as intervenors.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing for 10 days. While some progress has been achieved, there are still important issues of fairness and improving public services for Canadians that are yet to be resolved.

PSAC has requested that a mediator be appointed and that talks resume within two weeks.