Eight years after the introduction of the Phénix pay system, which experienced a real fiasco, the scars for federal officials in Shawinigan are still very present.
The local chairman of the tax employees' union, Julien Nobert, even speaks of a trauma. “People are hurt, there are scars that haven’t healed. So there is always [des craintes et des questions.] I accept a promotion. Will there be problems? I'm going away sick, will I have problems? I'm coming back from illness, will I have problems?” he said.
More than 444,000 public servants in the country are still waiting for their cases to be resolved. And some stories are heartbreaking, according to Yvon Barrière, regional vice-president of PSAC, Quebec. “An employee who had no wages for seven months. His house was confiscated,” he emphasized.
There's also the story of Pierre Lacelle, for whom the problems with Phoenix began when he shortened his work weeks to care for his seriously ill spouse. “The Phoenix system started debiting my bank account twice. He confiscated all the loans due to me everywhere,” said the state employee.
Given the ongoing situation, Yvon Barrière called for new compensation for its members. “This time we will form a united front to obtain compensation commensurate with the stress and anxiety of our members. HAS”
If the union sees improvement in Shawinigan, that's not the case everywhere. After a decline until 2021, the number of pending files is increasing again. According to Steven Mackinnon, leader of the government in the House of Commons, strikes and the expansion of the state are to blame.
To make matters worse, federal officials appear to be experiencing a second phoenix when employers have just changed insurance providers. Many of them complain about delays and errors in filing their claims with Canada Life.