Dear members,
Well, it’s been another productive few weeks here at PAFSO headquarters. And there’s a few new things to share with you. Unfortunately, I have to begin with an issue that just won’t seem to go away.
The Public Service Health Care Plan fiasco keeps getting worse
The situation with the new administration of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) has not improved since the debacle began almost immediately following the transition from Sun Life and Allianz in July last year. In fact, as things drag on, the inadequacies both in terms of coverage and customer service, have made the lives of many of our members – especially those serving abroad and depending on the PSHCP for all their medical needs – much harder.
Last week, CBC featured an article on the particular impacts of the PSCHP fiasco on public servants travelling and working abroad. They reached out to me as President of PAFSO for my take on the impact this is having on members of Canada’s Foreign Service. I made the point that since last summer, GAC has been trying to find all kinds of ways to improve the service to their employees, including by advancing millions of dollars to employees in order to cover the PSHCP’s shortfalls. While we welcome these efforts to help employees, this kind of thing is not sustainable. It is the responsibility of the Employer to provide you with a health care plan that works, full stop. You can read my full comments in article here at this link.
As you may have heard, the Public Service Alliance of Canada filed a policy grievance over the PSCHP transition last week. In solidarity with our PSAC colleagues, we at PAFSO have filed our own just yesterday. It reinforces the points made by PSAC, but with additional particular emphasis on the situation facing our members abroad.
In addition to this, we are currently in consultation with our legal counsel in order to identify the options available to us that could compel the Employer to take real action and make significant positive changes to remedy this unsustainable and unacceptable situation – including interim provisions for functional coverage while they sort out the situation with their current contractor.
Recently, I informed senior management at GAC of my growing concern that some PAFSO members abroad might be delaying important medical care out of fear of not being reimbursed or intimidation over the difficult administration processes involved. They asked me to make sure that you know they are committed supporting employees and their families in getting medical care, and they will continue to provide advances that do not need to be repaid until the claims are fully resolved. Although this is a band-aid solution that is not sustainable over the long term, please make use of all the available support to take care of your health and that of your family.
This is quite possibly the most important issue before us at the moment. That’s why it’s so crucial that we get the most accurate picture of the breadth and width of its effects on our membership. If you are encountering any issues with Canada Life or MSH International, please let us know. As always, you can be sure I will keep you up to date on this file as things evolve.
The 2024 PAFSO Triennial Survey is launching soon
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been three years since our last big membership-wide survey. But here we are, and in a few weeks’ time we will be launching the 2024 edition.
In case you don’t know, every three years PAFSO canvasses its membership to gather important information from basic demographic data to more specific information concerning job satisfaction, working conditions, career paths, etc. Collecting this data is the best way for us to get to know our members and to identify and measure developing trends. Ultimately, the answers you provide help us in our strategic planning process, scheduled to ramp up over the next couple of months. They also allow us to better represent you, including by making sure that your priorities are reflected in our preparations for the next round of collective bargaining.
The triennial surveys are typically a little long and can take up to 45 minutes or so to complete. We realize that this is a significant amount of time, so this year we will be adding a bit of an incentive. After completing the survey, respondents will have the option to enter into a weekly draw for the chance to win a prepaid credit card worth $50.
The survey will launch next month and will be open for four weeks. So, keep your eyes on your inboxes, as you should be getting the survey invitation email in the next few weeks.
A reminder from the Insurance Committee
As posting season approaches, the Insurance Committee wanted me to remind everyone of some of the great programs available to our members.
There’s ServicePlus, our free group discount program, through which members have access to great deals on travel, electronics, clothing, furniture and more. Members also have access to home and auto insurance, overseas personal effects insurance, and our highly specialized group life insurance program designed with Foreign Service Officers in mind.
So, if you’re in the market for any of these services, be sure to see what’s available to you as a PFASO member.
PAFSO Breakfasts
This past Tuesday, I had the pleasure of hosting Tradex Investment Advisors, Jorn Lewis and Luc Bisaillon. Just in time for tax season, Jorn and Luc provided us with his informed perspectives on the current investment climate. In case you missed it, want to hear what our friends at Tradex had to say, you can watch a recording of this week’s session here on our YouTube channel.
Our next PAFSO Breakfast is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 at 0900 Ottawa time. Join me then when our guest will be professional organizer and former FS spouse Edith Dandenault of HavenMaven. Edith will talk to us about getting organized as you leave on your next posting or as you return to headquarters. Whether you are a new FS about to go on your first assignment abroad, or a veteran looking to pick up some tips and tricks, you will enjoy her engaging presentation. Please click here to sign up for the session.
That wraps things up for this week’s update. I will report back to you on the first Friday in May. Until then, should there be anything causing you concern in the workplace, please send us an email including your name, department, and a detailed description of the issues you are facing. You will be connected with a member of our Labour Relations team who will be glad to assist you. If there’s anything else, just let us know at info@pafso.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.
All the best,
Pam Isfeld
President
@PafsoPresApase