Updates

On October 31, PSAC members across the country will be reminding Prime Minister Trudeau to make good on his word to respect public services and the people who provide them.

"Last year, Mr. Trudeau wrote to all public service workers promising to treat them with respect and restore the cuts made by Stephen Harper,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President. “It has been a year since the election. The tone has changed, but it’s now time for action."

Liberal government, Conservative agenda

Instead of moving forward in bargaining, the government has continued to push the Conservative agenda.

The federal government has confirmed it will not meet its October 31 deadline to clear the backlog of 80,000 cases that had accumulated as of June, due to the problems caused by the implementation of the Phoenix pay system.

30,000 outstanding cases

Marie Lemay, the Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement, made this announcement in a media briefing yesterday. In June, the government revealed that more than 80,000 people were being paid incorrectly – or not at all. There are still more than 30,000 unresolved cases outstanding.

The House of Commons has voted to pass Bill C-4, which will repeal two laws passed by the previous Conservative government. Members of Parliament voted 204 to 79 in favour.

This Bill C-4 will remove the roadblocks to unionization contained in the former Bill C-525 and the excessive reporting requirements designed only for unions in the former Bill C-377. Before the bill was introduced, the Liberal government announced late last year that it was waiving the reporting requirements for 2016.

Last year, Mr. Trudeau wrote to all public service workers promising to treat them with respect and restore the cuts made by Stephen Harper. It has been a year since the election. The tone has changed, but it’s now time for action.