Members in the PA group have started to receive their retroactive payments as part of the implementation of the collective agreements that were signed with Treasury Board. 

Members in the TC, SV and EB groups as well as PSAC-UTE, CFIA and Parks members will start to receive their retro pay in the next few months as well.  

As part of each Treasury Board agreement, PSAC negotiated that the employer must provide a detailed breakdown of the retroactive payments for every employee. 

We’ve put together answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you understand your retroactive pay and make sure the amount you received is correct.  

If you believe your retro pay is incorrect, you should contact the pay centre or your departmental compensation team. 

What is retroactive pay? 

Economic increases negotiated for a new collective agreement are effective from the expiry date of the old agreement. That means the employer must pay members the difference between their old salary and the negotiated salary for the period between the expiry of the old agreement and the implementation of the new one.  

Typically, this comes in the form of a lump-sum payment – called a retroactive payment – when the new collective agreement is implemented.

When should I expect my retro pay? 

Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have provided PSAC with a payment schedule for the implementation of monetary provisions now that the PA, EB, TC, SV and PSAC-UTE collective agreements have been signed. 

TB group Economic increase and adjustments pay cheque date Retroactive pay cheque date $500 lump sum (for late implementation) pay cheque date $400 lump sum pay cheque date (only for UTE members) PA Nov. 25, 2020 Feb. 3, 2021 Apr. 14, 2021   TC Dec. 23, 2020 Mar. 17, 2021 Apr. 14, 2021   SV Dec. 23, 2020 Mar. 17, 2021 Apr. 28, 2021   EB Feb. 17, 2021 Apr. 14, 2021 Apr. 28, 2021   UTE Dec. 23, 2020 Mar. 31, 2021 Apr. 28, 2021 Dec. 23, 2020 CFIA Mar. 19, 2021 Apr. 14, 2021 May 26, 2021   Parks Canada TBD TBD TBD

How is retro pay calculated? 

The amount of retro pay will vary based on your base rate of pay, acting pay, overtime and other factors that affect your pay. The amount of retro pay you receive will also depend on the length of time that has passed since the last collective agreement expired. The longer the period, the more retro pay you’ll receive.  

How much will my retro pay be?

It’s hard to say. The calculation can be complex because it can involve overtime, acting assignments, leave without pay (LWOP), etc. 

Check the detailed breakdown of your retro pay by following the steps under “How do I know if my retro pay was calculated properly” and if you believe the amount is incorrect, contact the pay centre or your departmental compensation team. 

How do I know if my retro pay was calculated properly? 

You have been provided with a breakdown of your retro pay in the CBA Retro Payment Tab of your Phoenix account (must have access to GC network). This should help you keep track of all the factors that impact your retro payment to make sure you’ve been paid correctly. Please note that payments may be staggered for more complex cases. 

To better understand the breakdown of your retro pay, you can refer to the government's guide to interpreting your pay stub. 

To view the breakdown of your retro payment, go to the Phoenix/Compensation Web Applications (CWA) portal (must have access to GC network) then:

→ Click on the Phoenix Pay System
          → Sign in with your MyKey
                   → Navigate to the Main Menu 
                            → Self Service 
                                     → Payroll and Compensation 
                                              → Retroactive Payroll
                                                       → Retro details

I’m entitled to retro pay. When will I receive it? ​ 

If you’re a member of the PA group, it’s likely you’ve already received your retro pay as a direct deposit into your account or by cheque on February 3. If you haven’t, the employer has up to 180 days from the day of signing the collective agreement to implement it and provide retroactive pay. For PA and TC members, that deadline is April 14. The deadline for EB, SV and PSAC-UTE members is April 28 and May 26, 2021 for CFIA members. 

If your retro payment requires manual processing by a compensation advisor, for example if you’ve been on maternity leave, LWOP, salary protection or leave with income averaging, the employer will notify you within the 180-day deadline. Manual processing must be implemented within 560 days of the signing of the agreement. 

I’m a former or retired federal public service worker. When will I get my retro pay? ​ 

Typically, former and retired employees are paid like everyone else with a direct deposit or a cheque. There are no additional steps required. 

If you haven’t received your retro pay, the employer has up to 180 days from the day of signing the collective agreement to implement it and provide retroactive pay. For PA and TC members, that deadline is April 14. The deadline for EB and SV members is April 28 and spring for PSAC-UTE members. 

If your retro payment requires manual processing by a compensation advisor, for example if you’ve been on maternity leave, LWOP, salary protection or leave with income averaging, the employer will notify you within the 180-day deadline. Manual processing must be implemented within 560 days of the signing of the agreement. 

What do I do if I find an error with my retro pay? 

You can request that your departmental compensation unit or the Public Service Pay Centre verify the calculation of your retroactive payment if you think the payment is incorrect.  

If your organization is serviced by the Pay Centre, you must first complete a Phoenix feedback form indicating which period you believe is missing from your pay. If your organization is not serviced by the Pay Centre, you should contact the compensation section in your department. 

What if I’m a member of the PA group and I haven’t received my retroactive payment yet?  

It could mean that the employer requires more time to calculate your retroactive pay.

If you’re a member of the PA group, it’s likely you’ve already received your retro pay as a direct deposit into your account or by cheque on February 3. If you haven’t, the employer has up to 180 days from the day of signing the collective agreement to implement it and provide retroactive pay. For PA and TC members, that deadline is April 14. The deadline for EB and SV members is April 28 and spring for PSAC-UTE members. 

If your retro payment requires manual processing by a compensation advisor, for example if you’ve been on maternity leave, LWOP, salary protection or leave with income averaging, the employer will notify you within the 180-day deadline. Manual processing must be implemented within 560 days of the signing of the agreement. 

If there is a delay in receiving your retro pay, you'll be eligible for compensation, outlined in the next section. 

Will there be penalties for the employer’s delay in implementing our collective agreement? 

Yes. PSAC negotiated a one-time payment of $500 in recognition of the extended 180-day collective agreement implementation deadline and an additional $50 for every subsequent 90-day delay.