In June 2011, the Harper government contracted IBM to develop a new payroll system for federal public service workers—all 282,352. When the government chose to consolidate the federal public service pay system, they laid off hundreds of compensation advisors, losing their valuable expertise and experience.
By the time the Phoenix project was passed onto Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government in February 2016, it was already crystal clear that Phoenix was plagued with problems. Despite PSAC and other unions sounding the alarm, the government went ahead and launched the pay system in 2016.
Over 300,000 federal public service workers and their families have been impacted by Phoenix. The problems that workers are facing because of this flawed pay system range from not being paid properly, to missing paycheques for months at a time, to unnecessary debt and loss, bankruptcy — even homelessness. This failed system has cost the government billions of dollars, but the cost to federal public service workers is incalculable.
Incredibly, eight years later, the Phoenix pay fiasco continues.
Public service workers want to see an end to their pay problems. We deserve to be paid correctly, and when pay issues arise, to have them resolved quickly, with timeline commitments for pay issues to end. We want peace of mind knowing the government — our employer — is doing everything in their power to make this right.
What’s an anniversary without an anniversary card or two?
To mark the 8 year anniversary of the botched Phoenix pay system, we have created some special Unhappy Anniversary cards for PSAC BC members. Make no mistake, this is no celebratory occasion for federal public service workers and their families. Too many have been, and continue to be, impacted by the Liberal government’s billion dollar blunder that is the Phoenix pay system.
Each version of our Unhappy Anniversary cards highlights one of the PSAC’s demands of Treasury Board President Anita Anand and Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos. Download 1, 2, 3 or all 4 cards and post them on your union board or share with other PSAC BC members.
Unhappy Anniversary graphics for social media:
