Sisters and Brothers,

Thank you so much for your continued support and solidarity in the face of the Phoenix Pay System debacle. More and more stories are coming out, and it is all due to the pressure you are applying in your communities and in your workplaces.

PSAC - Prairie Region is asking you to complete a survey for our members. Nearly 200,000 federal public service workers have suffered, and continue to suffer, financial and emotional consequences a s a result of the government's implementation of the Phoenix Pay System. This includes many workers in the Prairies who deliver quality services to Canadians, day in and day out, despite the hardship they have faced as a result of this debacle. This survey is designed to provide a sense of the real-life consequences of the Phoenix Pay System on you as a member, your family and your community.

If you are a member of PSAC from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba, please proceed to PSAC - Prairie Region Phoenix Survey before May 7, 2018.

In Solidarity, 

PSAC - Prairies Statement on the Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash

The thoughts of all members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada – Prairie Region are with the families, friends and communities affected by the devastating accident in Saskatchewan this past weekend involving the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. No words can express our sorrow for the lives cut short. 

Read more . . .

Manitobans deserve a $15 minimum wage 
Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck

No one should work full time and have to live in poverty. But, that is exactly what is happening to thousands of Manitoba workers because our minimum wage is a poverty wage. Having a job and working full time should be a path out of poverty, not a poverty trap, plain and simple.

The governments of Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia have already committed to increasing their minimum wage to $15 per hour. It’s time our province got on board, too.

Read more . . .

Union hasn't given up fight against relocation of Vegreville immigration centre

The union representing workers at the Vegreville immigrant and refugee case processing centre is still trying to fight the relocation of 236 jobs to Edmonton before the federal government's targeted move-in date this fall.

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) officials are reviewing legal options to help the 40 workers who left their jobs because they were unable to move to Edmonton. 

Read more . . .

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) is disappointed the Sask. Party government gave up an opportunity to invest in Saskatchewan workers and create good jobs. Premier Scott Moe’s first budget offered no change from the Wall-era policies of heartless cuts, ballooning deficits, and disrespect for workers.

“Unfortunately, what we saw in today’s budget was more of the same. Same old cuts, same old unfair tax hikes, and the same old refusal to create good jobs by investing in workers,” said Larry Hubich, SFL president, “we will take some time to consider the lasting impacts of this budget, but it is pretty clear that Saskatchewan people do not support these types of short-sighted decisions,” he added.

Read more . . .

SFL Summer Camp 2018

The Annual SFL Summer Camp, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, will be held August 25 - 31, 2018 at Camp Easter Seal, Manitou Lake. 

Funding is available to pay for at least one child of a PSAC member. Any member interested in submitting the name of a child between the ages of 13 to 16 should submit a short essay (approximately 100 words) answering the question, “What can a union do for me?”

The deadline to submit applications is Monday, June 11, 2018 at noon (CST). Applicants will be notified if their child has been selected for the subsidy. Submit applications to Alison Davis by email: davisa@psac.com, fax: (204) 943-0652, or by mail: Suite 460-175 Hargrave Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3R8.

Please click here for more information . . .

Nearly 200,000 federal public service workers have suffered, and continue to suffer financial and emotional consequences as a result of the government’s implementation of the Phoenix pay system.

We call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to:

• stop forcing workers who have mistakenly received overpayments, to pay back the gross amount; 
• permanently increase the number of compensation advisors in both federal departments and the pay centre; and 
• provide federal public service workers with damages for the many hardships Phoenix has caused them.

Two surveys conducted by the Canadian government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), respectively, confirm that federal public service workers have suffered a number of significant hardships that should be remedied through damages.

Figures released from the Public Service Employee Survey this past week found that 93% of those impacted by Phoenix had to spend hours of their own time to try to resolve their pay problems. Almost 50% spent days trying to get paid correctly and 14% said it has taken them 40 hours or more.

Read more . . .

PSAC and our members are frustrated with the government’s failure to follow through on its commitment to delay recoveries of overpayments and emergency pay until federal public service workers have had all their pay problems resolved.

“Our members are still having their salaries clawed back while they continue to experience pay problems,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “It’s very disappointing that the government has been unable to deliver on this commitment with the speed and urgency the situation requires.”

Read more . . .

Now that tax filing season is in full swing, PSAC wants to remind its members in the federal public service about some important information regarding Phoenix-related tax implications. 

Read more . . .

PSAC, and the other unions representing federal public service workers, are negotiating damages with the government for the undue stress and hardships caused by the Phoenix pay system.

In its budget, the government acknowledged it must work with the federal public sector unions to address the emotional and financial impacts of Phoenix. Since then, the talks concerning damages have been advancing. The compensation being sought is for the stress, the time spent dealing with, and the catastrophic losses caused by Phoenix pay problems.

Read more . . . 

As a PSAC member working for the Treasury Board - FB Group, you will be voting on a tentative agreement with your employer between April 16 and May 31, 2018.

If you wish to vote, you must ensure that you are a member in good standing and that the union has an up to date mailing address for you. If you have not done this yet, please update your information here. This vote will be conducted electronically, and we need to ensure that only those entitled receive the PIN number required to cast a vote.

Read more . . .

“This is a great victory for our members. After years of hard work, they are finally being recognized as law enforcement officers with the respect and salaries they deserve”, said Robyn Benson, National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

Read more . . .

The new Canada Post collective agreement is now in effect. Our union and the Canada Post Corporation signed the collective agreement at noon today. A joint communique, explaining changes to Article 28 (Job Security) and the effect on surplus employees, will be issued by the parties shortly.

Our bargaining team thanks our members at Canada Post for their constant support during this round of bargaining.

Public Service Alliance of Canada-Agriculture Union members working for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have ratified a new collective agreement in a series of votes held over the last two months across the country.

Read more . . .

As you move forward in the process of deeming and becoming members of our union, PSAC-USJE have created a process to welcome CM input to this round of collective bargaining. We are seeking interested CMs to participate in this round, providing input to our bargaining teams by sharing issues that are important to your community.

Though deeming has been postponed, it is important that you have a voice at this round of negotiations with Treasury Board, your ultimate employer.

Read more . . .

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has filed an interference complaint with the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) relating to the government’s failure to collect and remit dues.

“PSAC members pay their dues in order for our union to provide them representation, and the services they need,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “The failure of the government to transfer union dues will hurt PSAC’s ability to represent our members. Phoenix may be the reason, but it isn’t an excuse.”

Read more . . .

PSAC members from coast-to-coast-to-coast who are covered under four of the collective agreements with Treasury Board will be gathering in Ottawa, March 26-29, 2018 to elect bargaining teams and discuss proposals for the upcoming round of bargaining.

“PSAC’s number one priority is getting the best deal for our members,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “We have a democratic process for prioritizing the proposals we bring to the bargaining table. The bargaining conference is a critical step in ensuring our members have their say.”

Over 100,000 federal public service workers are covered under the PA, TC, SV, and EB collective agreements.

Read more . . .

The Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board has declared that the federal government has violated its obligations under the law by failing to meet the implementation deadline for the PA, SV, TC and EB collective agreements.

“Now that the Board has made its declaration, it is time for the government take responsibility for its failure and negotiate compensation for our members,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “Phoenix might be the reason, but it is not an excuse. PSAC will continue to hold this government to account at every opportunity until they fix the mess they have created.”

Read more . . .

PSAC has written the President of the Treasury Board requesting a remission order to protect federal public service workers who have been subject to overpayment errors by Phoenix. This would provide all federal public service workers who received overpayments an exemption from repaying the gross amount – which is more than what they received.

“We have been clear that, under no circumstances, should our members be forced to hand over more money than they received in overpayment. The Minister has within his power the ability to solve this problem and that is what we are asking him to do,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson.

Read more . . .

• April 26, Winnipeg Human Rights Committee Meeting, Winnipeg
• May 14, Winnipeg Young Workers Committee Meeting, Winnipeg

• April 19, Regina Young Workers Committee Inaugural Meeting, Regina

• April 21, Women's Fun Day, Edmonton
• April 23, Edmonton Young Workers Committee Meeting, Edmonton

• April 25, Calgary Young Workers Committee Inaugural Meeting, Calgary
• May 5 & 6, Mini Union School, Lethbridge

For two years, almost 200,000 federal public service workers have been underpaid, overpaid or not paid at all under the Phoenix pay system.

The Liberal Government has been spreading fiction about closing the Vegreville Case Processing Centre.

Why is the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship breaking the promise made by Prime Minister Trudeau to Vegreville CPC public service workers?