June 13, 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario – Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Today, the Government of Canada and 15 public service unions finalized a joint agreement to compensate more than 146,000 current and former employees who may have been impacted by the Phoenix pay system.



This agreement, first announced last month as a tentative deal, was co-developed by unions and the federal government, and provides compensation for fiscal years 2016-17 to 2019 20. It includes up to 5 days total of additional annual leave for employees and a cash pay-out of this leave for former employees and the estates of deceased employees who submit a claim.



Additional compensation, evaluated on a case-by-case basis, will be provided for those who experienced severe personal or financial hardship due to Phoenix and those who missed opportunities to earn interest on savings accounts or other financial and capital investments. Claims will also be accepted to reimburse sick leave taken due to Phoenix pay problems, among other issues.

This agreement applies to employees, former employees and the estates of deceased employees represented by a bargaining agent in the core public administration. The government is open to extending this agreement to employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) at any time, should the union agree.

Separate agencies are expected to reach similar agreements shortly with their unions.



Employees can expect to see up to 4 days of additional annual leave that covers 2016-17 to 2018-19 added to their leave banks within 150 days. Employees will also receive an annual leave credit, up to 1 day, for fiscal year 2019-20. This will be added within 150 days of March 31, 2020.



More information on when employees, former employees and the estates of deceased employees can submit a claim for the additional compensation outlined in this agreement will be shared in the coming months. The government aims to make this process as simple and streamlined as possible in collaboration with bargaining agents.



