Membership Benefits

Collective Bargaining  

Your Group's bargaining team, assisted by a professional negotiator and a compensation analyst, negotiates your collective agreement with your employer. This agreement contains provisions establishing your terms and conditions of employment, rates of pay, hours of work and the rights or duties of the parties to the agreement. Fairness and respect are the result of effective collective bargaining.

Employment Relations  

Experienced employment/labour relations officers interpret collective agreements and employment legislation; provide expertise in such areas as working conditions, human rights and health and safety; assist members in processing complaints and grievances at all levels including adjudication; and represent members before other tribunals affecting employment. Institute representatives actively participate in the National Joint Council, contributing to the development of its directives.

Consultation  

Institute officers represent the interests of the members at all three levels of consultation with the employer (local, regional and national).

Classification  

Classification experts provide advice on classification matters and represent members with their classification grievances. These experts deliver training pertaining to job evaluation, job content and the classification process.

Help Desk Assistance 

Advisors respond to enquiries on a wide variety of issues, including collective agreements, employment benefits and recourse mechanisms.

Pension and Benefits Advice 

The Institute's employment/labour relations officers can help you understand issues pertaining to your pension, disability insurance, medical and dental plans and other employment benefits. The Institute also offers the services of a pension and benefits advisor at the National Office.

Training  

The Institute offers a comprehensive steward training program. Courses include basic and specialized steward training.

Research Resources  

Research officers provide compensation expertise in the bargaining process and present pay briefs before conciliation and arbitration boards; conduct legal research for grievances proceeding to adjudication; conduct research on workplace issues (harassment and employment equity); and prepare public policy briefs.

Legal Counsel  

Legal opinions and consultations are provided by legal experts on specific issues arising from government decisions and/or legislation that affect the entire membership, specific Groups or individual members.

Stewards 

Stewards provide advice, initial aid and guidance to members and are an invaluable link between the Institute and members in their work sites. They can assist in finding a reasonable solution to avoid an escalating problem.

Communications & Government Relations  

Recognizing the importance of keeping its members well informed, news-breaking items and current information are posted and updated regularly on the Web site at www.pipsc.ca.

Communications Magazine informs on issues and bargaining. The Institute communicates its position on issues to the media through press conferences, news releases and interviews.

IIn order to ensure the views of professional public service employees are reflected in public policy development and the legislative process, the Institute monitors legislation, liaises with House of Commons and Senate committees and discusses issues with Members of Parliament and decision makers.

The Institute publishes position papers, briefs, information brochures and pamphlets. A team of experienced translators ensures that all documents and publications are available in both official languages.

Scholarship Program 

Scholarships assist with educational expenses and promote the Institute as an organization committed to the advancement of education. To be eligible, applicants must be children or grandchildren of Regular or Retired members.

Administrative Infrastructure  

Membership Services maintains records and processes dues, applications, and members' queries.

The Mail, Registry and Print Shop processes and distributes correspondence, newsletters, ballots, questionnaires, and bulletins.

Finance Services administers Group, Sub-Group, Branch and Regional fund allocations and, in some cases, oversees the collection of membership dues.

Informatics Services maintains and supports the Institute's complex computer network, Web site and membership database.