{"id":5734,"date":"2016-09-01T07:57:15","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T12:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fr.une-sen.org\/press\/?p=5734"},"modified":"2016-09-02T11:51:43","modified_gmt":"2016-09-02T16:51:43","slug":"phoenix-taking-its-toll-on-workers-at-miramichi-pay-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unesen.ca\/press\/?p=5734","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix taking its toll on workers at Miramichi pay centre"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"PhoenixToll\"<\/p>\n

The Phoenix pay system debacle is being felt by public service workers across Canada, but nowhere more intensely than in the eye of the storm\u2014the Miramichi pay centre.<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

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That\u2019s the message PSAC President Robyn Benson and Donna Lackie, President of the Government Services Union component, gave Minister Judy Foote at their August 19, meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorkers there, who are working long hours struggling to deliver pay, are carrying the weight of the entire public service on their shoulders,\u201d says Lackie.<\/p>\n

Pay centre workers tell their stories at a union town hall meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Members spoke about poor working conditions, lack of support resources, and problems with failing technology at a recent town hall meeting with Benson and Lackie. Compensation advisors are frustrated that they do not have the help they need to get all of the work done, while feeling a lot of stress because of the heavy workload and pressure to deal with more cases than they can handle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s heartbreaking to see someone at their wit\u2019s end when they can\u2019t do their job,\u201d one worker said. \u201cWe used to be able to do our job and be confident in it and efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another worker spoke about seeing \u201cpeople crying at their desks, people calling in sick, and people crying in the bathrooms\u201d because of the stress.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a group of members that are working so hard to ensure that everybody gets paid and gets paid properly but they\u2019re faced with a system that isn\u2019t capable of doing it all,\u201d said Benson.<\/p>\n

The union is bringing the concerns voiced by the Miramichi workers directly to Deputy Minister Marie Lemay.<\/p>\n

\u201cMorale in Miramichi is at its absolute lowest,\u201d said Lackie.<\/p>\n

The union has asked the government to bring in mental health experts on site at the pay centre.<\/p>\n

Miramichi workers\u2019 messages to affected public service workers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Compensation advisors in Miramichi also had messages to share with other public service employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, the people that work at the pay centre are employees too. We also experience pay problems,\u201d said one worker.<\/p>\n

\u201cHang in there,\u201d said another, \u201cWe are working as hard as we can. We are trying our best.\u201d<\/p>\n

PSAC tells Parliamentary committee about pay centre conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On July 28, Lackie testified before the House of Commons Committee on Government Operations and Estimates<\/a> <\/strong>about the working conditions at the pay centre.<\/p>\n