Unions seek more compensation for federal workers facing ongoing Phoenix system errors
Three major unions are urging the Canadian government to offer additional compensation to federal public servants due to persistent issues with the Phoenix pay system, as highlighted in a report by The Globe and Mail.
Despite being launched eight years ago; the system has accumulated a staggering 444,000 unresolved cases.
Chris Aylward, the national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), expressed unprecedented concern over the backlog, stating, “we’ve never seen this many cases in the backlog.”
In a recent press release, federal public service unions, including PSAC, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, have outlined the enduring wait times for payroll issues, which currently stand at two years.
These unions are advocating for the federal government to negotiate the extension of prior agreements to further compensate public servants for ongoing damages due to the flawed pay system.
Highlighting the unceasing nature of these pay issues, Aylward remarked, “Every single pay week, we still have pay problems, and we’re years out from getting a new pay system.”
He recalled an earlier agreement negotiated by his union that resulted in a $2,500 settlement for members for issues occurring between 2016 and 2020, signaling a need for new negotiations to address damages over the last four years.
Aylward detailed the continuous problems faced by public servants, such as being overpaid or underpaid, and the lengthy two-year process to correct pay files after changing departments or agencies.
He emphasized the significant anxiety among public servants, especially those nearing retirement, due to uncertainties about their pensions being correctly processed.
Describing the Phoenix pay system as “still a mess,” Aylward criticized the federal government's failure to pay its employees accurately and promptly, insisting on accountability for these shortcomings.
He also condemned the government's recent efforts to reclaim overpayments from years past without adequately explaining the reasons or specific paycheques involved, expecting members to agree to repayments unquestioningly.
Aylward's calls for action include hiring more compensation advisors and ensuring they receive adequate training to manage the flawed system effectively.
He pointed out recruitment and retention challenges among advisors tasked with navigating the problematic system, urging the government to enhance efforts in this area.
Launched with the intention of consolidating various outdated pay systems to save millions annually, the Phoenix system instead has caused significant disruption since its introduction in 2016, far from achieving its cost-saving goals.
