Treasury Board has asked the federal Pay Equity Commissioner to approve its request for three separate pay equity plans for the core federal public service. One of these plans would apply to PSAC members.

PSAC is strongly contesting the employer’s request. Dividing the core public service into three separate plans limits how jobs can be compared to determine if there are salary differences based on gender and to make pay adjustments to eliminate those differences.

We will be asking the Commissioner to deny Treasury Board’s request and confirm that there will be only one pay equity plan for all employees, as described in the federal Pay Equity Act.

The Pay Equity Act, which became effective in August 2021, requires employers to proactively establish a pay equity plan within three years and to adjust salaries as required by the plan. This is a significant change from the past, when women and their unions had to file complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission to try to achieve equal pay for work of equal value.

“Once more, Treasury Board is trying to avoid its responsibility to provide equal pay for equal work,” says PSAC National President Chris Aylward. “Two decades ago, our union won a landmark victory in establishing pay equity in Canada’s federal public service. We’re ready to fight for this fundamental right again.”

Treasury Board’s request does not affect the pay equity work currently taking place with other employers under federal jurisdiction with PSAC bargaining units.

See PSAC’s pay equity page for more information.