On Wednesday, February 28, hundreds of USJE members gathered for the PSAC National Day of Action. Members across the country rallied to protest the flawed Phoenix pay system.
Since the implementation of the automated system in 2016, thousands of federal workers have suffered discrepancies in their pay, often with serious financial consequences.
Kirsty Havard, Regional Vice President for CSC British Columbia, told BC Local News that “some federal workers have lost their homes, they’ve had loans, credit card debt to cover things.” She went on to mention that she has represented members who had to ask friends, family, and church communities for money to keep afloat.
Regional Vice President Kirsty Havard speaks with a reporter in Agassiz, BC 
Regional Vice President Frank Janz with USJE members in Winnipeg, MB
On Tuesday, February 27, CBC News reported that the federal budget would be committing $16 million over two years to fix the broken system by 2025. Even so, Local President Stacey Gauthier of Mountain Institution Pen told the Agassiz Harrison Observer, “six years is a long time to wait to fix things.”
“We’ve got members that are owed anywhere from $2,000 to $30,000 or more, and it’s not acceptable. It’s a long time, it’s a long process, especially if people that are waiting for money aren’t getting their money.”
USJE members protest Phoenix fiasco in Quebec, QC 
USJE members, staff, and Regional Vice President JP Surette in Ottawa, ON
Despite not having been paid for their hard work, federal workers across the country have shown determination and perseverance, and have continued to show up to serve the public. Hundreds have also shown their support on social media by using the hashtag #BurntByPhoenix.
Regional VP Nicole Gibson gathers signatures for a petition in Courtenay, BC 
Regional VP Jackie Oswald, with SFL President Larry Hubich and members from RCMP Regina in Regina, SK
USJE would like to thank our members for coming out to the National Day of Action rallies across Canada, and for supporting our brothers and sisters who have gone without pay for too long. Enough is enough!