Federal unions approve agreement on Phoenix damages

OTTAWA, May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Late last week, a subcommittee of federal public service unions and employer representatives reached a tentative agreement to provide damages to public service workers in light of the ongoing Phoenix payroll debacle. This tentative agreement was two years in the making. Today, the undersigned unions are pleased to announce they have signed on to this deal.

It’s important to recognize that this agreement in no way absolves the employer of its obligations to pay out any outstanding monies owed to the hundreds of thousands of public servants who continue to face issues with their pay, nor does it remove the employer’s obligation to stabilize the current payroll system and continue work to find its replacement as quickly as possible.

What this agreement does, though, is:

1. provide immediate compensation to every public servant represented by these unions; and
2. create a process by which additional costs can be reimbursed and additional compensation / damages can be awarded to those affected by payroll errors.
   

Specifically, this agreement:

• provides as a starting point, two (2) days of annual leave for anyone who worked in the public service in 2016-17 and additional one (1) day of annual leave for those employed in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, for a total of five (5) days for those employed since Phoenix was deployed, regardless of if or how they were affected by Phoenix;
  
  
• establishes a process by which those who are no longer employed in the public service but were during the timeframe above can apply for reimbursement equal to that amount of leave;
  
  
• extends the existing process for claiming out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of Phoenix problems;
  
  
• creates a process for claiming additional costs including losses incurred as a result of having to cash in investments as a result of pay issues; losses associated with deferred RRSP contributions; costs associated with delayed severance or pension payments; or interest on loans, mortgages credit cards or other forms of debt;
  
  
• allows for the reimbursement of sick leave for members who took such leave because of Phoenix;
  
  
• allows for payment of interest on delayed severance payments and pension entitlements or missing pay;
   
• does not preclude additional damages being sought for claims alleging discrimination including issues related to maternity, parental or disability leave;
   
• allows for claims related to consequences of lost occupational capacity, lost security clearances, bankruptcy or significant impacts on credit ratings; and
  
  
• creates a process for claims related to mental anguish and trauma or other personal hardship.

We have also secured a commitment from the employer that should a bargaining agent secure additional compensation outside of this settlement, all signatory unions will receive the same compensation.

The ongoing Phoenix debacle is unprecedented in the scope and scale of harm caused to employees across the public service. While no amount of compensation could ever begin to provide full redress, it is our opinion that this agreement -- in addition to the employer’s commitment to fully resolve outstanding pay issues and the steps taken previously to mitigate the impact on tax filing errors and defer collection of overpayments -- represents a significant and concrete recognition of the frustration and anguish felt by every public servant.

More details on the implementation of this agreement, including timelines, will be made available in the coming weeks.

So far, the following unions have signed on to this agreement; others are expected to sign in the coming days and weeks.

Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO)

Association of Justice Counsel (AJC)

Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA)

Canadian Federal Pilots Association (CFPA)

Canadian Military Colleges Faculty Association (CMCFA)

Federal Government Dockyard Chargehands Association (FGDCA)

Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council East (FGDTLC (E)

Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council West (FGDTLC (W)

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2228

Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO)

Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)

Research Council Employees Association (RCEA)

Unifor, Local 87-M

For further information:  Johanne Fillion,  613-883-4900 (cell.)