Phoenix Pay System: Eight Years of Headache for Civil Servants

Eight years after the introduction of the Phoenix Pay System, a true fiasco, federal civil servants in Shawinigan still have many scars.

Julian Nobert, local president of the Tax Employees Union, also spoke out about the trauma. “People are hurt, there are scars that won't heal. So there always is [des craintes et des questions.] I accept the promotion, will I have problems? I'm going away sick, will I have problems? I'm coming back from an illness, will I have problems? He suggested.

In the country, more than 444,000 state employees are still awaiting resolution of their cases. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, according to Yvonne Barriere, PSAC regional executive vice-president in Quebec. “Unpaid employee for 7 months. His house has been seized,” he asserted.

There's also the story of Pierre Lacelle, whose problems began when Phoenix cut short his workweek to care for his seriously ill partner. “The Phoenix system started emptying my bank account twice. He has seizures everywhere on all the credits I am entitled to,” said the state employee.

Faced with the ongoing situation, Yvonne Barrier demanded new compensation for her members. “This time we are going to form a united front to seek reparations in line with the pressure and concern of our members. »

If the union represented an improvement in Shawinigan, this was not the case everywhere. After declining until 2021, the number of pending files has started to rise again. According to Steven MacKinnon, the government's leader in the House of Commons, strikes and an increase in the size of the state were to blame.

To add insult to injury, federal civil servants feel they are experiencing a second phoenix when their employer changes insurance providers. Many have reported delays and errors in their claims to Canada Life.