Updates

As negotiations between CPC and PSAC continue, the parties will now have until May 1st, 2020 to reach a tentative agreement. In order to allow the parties to have full discussion on the issues at the table, PSAC-UPCE have decided to postpone the bargaining conference to the beginning of June. Should the parties not reach an early renewal of the Collective Agreement through a tentative agreement, the PSAC/UPCE bargaining conference will now be held in Ottawa on June 8, 9 and 10, 2020. However, if a tentative agreement is reached within this timeframe, the deal will be put to the membership for a democratic ratification vote.

Why PSAC still doesn’t have a settlement 

We are largely satisfied with our negotiations surrounding the strengthening of the current expense claims process and expanding it to include more significant financial hardships. Therefore, two of the three parts of the proposed settlement are not a problem. The major stumbling block is the government’s offer on compensation for general damages. 

Aside from compensation for Phoenix damages, the impact of the Phoenix pay system is a central bargaining issue for each of PSAC’s federal public service bargaining units. Your bargaining teams will not accept a deal that does not enshrine pay-related protections in future collective agreements. As the majority of our government bargaining units move through the Public Interest Commission process, here is a reminder of the Phoenix related bargaining demands that are on the table: 

The PIC agreed with PSAC that reaching a fair Phoenix damages deal could be the “ultimate antidote” that paves the way to a deal. The PIC acknowledged that while other unions have set a pattern for compensation that includes five days of paid leave, as the largest bargaining agent, PSAC has the leverage to demand more.  

Every PSAC member has suffered stress and anxiety because of Phoenix, even the small few that haven’t had pay issues. Many members have had to put their lives on hold; canceling parental leave, refusing new jobs, promotions or acting assignments and even delaying their retirement for fear of being Phoenixed.