PSAC Phoenix Damages Agreement

As you may be aware, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has reached their own agreement on Phoenix damages for their members.

You will recall that in 2019, the AJC President co-chaired the Phoenix Damages subcommittee that lead the way to reaching the original settlement for most of the Federal public service. That agreement included a “catch up” clause that ensures that in the event that another union secured improvements to the deal, the Employer committed to making those same improvements available to those who signed on first.

The agreement reached between PSAC and the Employer on July 3^rd 2020, differs from the agreement we entered into, in that it compensates with a cash payout instead of leave. In our agreement, AJC members were awarded up to 5 days of additional leave. Those additional days were treated the same as annual leave and were subject to the same cash-out provisions in your collective agreement. Leave was chosen instead of a monetary form of compensation, as it is a tangible benefit that is both flexible and easily administered while minimizing the risk of further Phoenix pay system issues.

The settlement reached by PSAC relates both to Phoenix damages and a collective agreement implementation grievance. Once we’ve confirmed what portion relates to Phoenix as opposed to the other dispute settled alongside, we will meet with the Employer to ensure all members get equal or greater value.

We recognize that no one would be getting any kind of compensation if it wasn’t for the dedicated diligent work of your union representatives. It is our firm belief that without unions, and without the AJC in particular, there would have been no compensation deal at all.  It was the AJC’s policy grievance that got the whole damages ball rolling long before anyone else was even thinking about damages.   It was our collective strength that got the employer to the table.

If you have any questions, please consult our FAQs on Phoenix Damages and on Phoenix Pay Issues and contact your regional Governing Council representative.