More than 100 federal employees and supporters gathered outside the federal offices on Government Street for a lunchtime protest over ongoing problems with Phoenix payroll system.
One of those employees was Suzanne Medges, a support clerk who previously worked for the federal government, resigned in 2011 then came back to her job in July 2016. She said it took more than three months to receive her first paycheque after returning to work.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 get paid and, even though I was working full time, I had to take a second job because there was no money coming in,B次元官网网址� she said before marching with coworkers to the legislature.
B次元官网网址淥nce I did get paid, they used old information and started depositing my pay into my ex-husbandB次元官网网址檚 account, even though I had clearly informed them of my divorce and given them my new banking information. They also put him on my benefit plan.B次元官网网址�
The Phoenix system, for which the contract was first awarded to IBM in 2014 by the Harper government, was plagued by problems from the outset. By May 2015, IBM was recommending a delay in the planned roll-out of the system. The recommendation fell on deaf ears and by that June, payroll staff at the central system headquarters in Miramachi, NB reported they could not keep up with complaints from people who were not getting paid, or getting paid the wrong amounts.
The problems have continued and, although no definite tallies are available, one Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) member estimated that more than 600,000 active complaints are still awaiting resolution.
This, despite the fact the system has already cost the federal government more than $900 million.
Victoria worker Bob Lacquement, who retired from the civil service last May, has still not received his severance pay and is thankful his pension isnB次元官网网址檛 administered by the Phoenix system.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 lucky that I have a pension. If IB次元官网网址檇 been counting on my severance package, IB次元官网网址檇 be getting pretty hungry by now,B次元官网网址� he said with a wry smile.
Mark Baxter, an electrical supervisor with the Department of National Defence, hasnB次元官网网址檛 seen the salary increase he earned through his promotion to the supervisory position.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been seven months and IB次元官网网址檓 still not getting the correct rate. Most of the people working for me are actually getting paid at a higher rate than I am. Worse still, the summer hires we had working have still not been paid at all,B次元官网网址� he said.
This weekB次元官网网址檚 federal budget announcement earmarked $16 million to start the process of creating a new system, with a view to eventually scrapping the Phoenix system.
All that does very little to help the hundreds of federal employees in Victoria who find themselves angry and frustrated at the governmentB次元官网网址檚 seeming inability to fix the problems now.
B次元官网网址淵ou can have 12 people working in an office and for some reason two of them will not get paid while everyone else is fine. ItB次元官网网址檚 just the luck of the draw and itB次元官网网址檚 enough to make you very distraught,B次元官网网址� Medges said.
Victoria Labour Council president Mike Eso was at Wednesday afternoonB次元官网网址檚 protest and spoke to the crowd of federal employees, urging them not to lose heart and to continue to fight for wages theyB次元官网网址檝e earned.
ItB次元官网网址檚 time, he said, for the federal government to take action.
