Trust is the foundation of any workplace. Workers commit to doing their jobs, and in return, they expect to be treated with respect and paid fairly. But for the past nine years, the federal government has broken that trust with its own workers.
Nine years ago, the federal government launched the Phoenix pay system, promising efficiency and accuracy. Instead, it delivered chaos. From the very start, workers reported missing paycheques, incorrect salaries, and severe financial hardship.
Nearly a decade later, the crisis remains unresolved, with more than 383,000 pay issues still in the backlog. The workers affected by Phoenix are not just numbers in a system—they are people with mortgages, bills, and families to support.
Here in the Tri-Cities area, nearly 1,000 of our friends, family members, and neighbours continue to endure financial uncertainty due to a government failure that should have been fixed years ago.
No one should have to worry about whether their next paycheque will arrive on time or in the right amount. But Phoenix is just one example of a broader issue: a pattern of neglect when it comes to supporting federal public service workers. Chronic understaffing, outsourcing, and budget cuts have put incredible strain on these workers, forcing them to do more with less while dealing with the ongoing stress of an unreliable payroll system. These are the same workers who process our passports, protect our borders, support veterans, inspect our food and transportation, and keep government programs running. They are the backbone of the public services we all depend on.
Here in our community, we have seen firsthand how dedicated public service workers continue to serve Canadians despite these challenges. Whether it’s ensuring seniors receive their pensions on time, providing emergency relief during crises, or helping newcomers settle into the country, PSAC members are on the frontlines every day, delivering essential services with professionalism and care. But how has their employer—the federal government—repaid that dedication? By failing to prioritize the Phoenix disaster and moving ahead with a new payroll system without ensuring that workers have confidence that history won’t repeat itself.
This isn’t just about solving the issues with this broken pay system. It’s about rebuilding trust in the federal government as an employer and ensuring that public service workers are valued, respected, and properly supported. When these workers are treated as an afterthought, it’s not just them who suffer—it’s every Canadian who relies on strong, well-functioning public services.
If the federal government wants to recruit and retain the best talent, it needs to do better. That starts with listening to workers, investing in stable and well-staffed public services, and fixing Phoenix once and for all.
It’s time for the government to stop making workers bear the burden of its mistakes and start showing leadership that puts both public service workers and the public first.
Jamey Mills is the regional executive vice-president for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, BC Region. PSAC is one of Canada’s largest unions with members in every province and territory. The majority of PSAC members work for the federal government, agencies and crown corporations. As the REVP for B.C., Jamey represents the 20,000 PSAC members across the province.
