Hundreds of federal workers in Victoria rallied during the noon hour to protest slow contract talks and more than 3 years living with the disastrous Phoenix pay system.
The payroll processing system was introduced at the end of February 2016, and has been plagued with issues ever since. Employees have been underpaid, over-paid, and not paid at all, creating all sorts of issues for workers.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada has been in negotiations for a new contract which is about the expire. Bargaining resumes at the end of April -- and the Phoenix pay system is one of the issues.
National President Chris Aylward issued an ultimatum to the Prime Minister to a cheering crowd:
" Justin Trudeau in 2015 you sent a letter to every single federal public sector in the country saying you respected the work that they did. You got 1 week in April to really show that respect. And if not, we will hit the streets and we will remember you in October! "
As of the end of the 3rd week in January the Phoenix pay system had recorded over 275,000 unresolved pay issues.