Update on SMSM-11-02 (PSDC CR-04) grievances at Service Canada (ESDC) – August 2026

August 28, 2026 | By Matthew Brett

Update on SMSM-11-02 (PSDC CR-04) grievances at Service Canada (ESDC) – August 2026 Thumbnail

As indicated in the updates published on our website, on March 30 and April 28, 2026, an agreement was signed between ESDC and the CEIU concerning the policy grievance, filed on March 29, 2019, following the hearing had been held in person in Ottawa on September 12, 2024 before the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).

INFORMATION APPLICABLE BY EMPLOYEE GROUP FOLLOWING ESDC’S DECISIONS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2019

ESDC and the CEIU HAVE AGREED:

Resolution of 2019 Grievances: The parties acknowledge that approximately 110 employees who filed grievances in 2019 and 2020 were found eligible for retroactive salary adjustments for the period during which they held PSDC positions while performing PM-01-level duties. The Employer agrees to process these payments following the signing of individual settlement agreements.

→ In recent weeks, ESDC has been unable to provide all relevant documents to the four CEIU national union representatives (NURs) working on these cases, broken down by region (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, and Western). CEIU has received only a portion of the documents, and those are incomplete. ESDC is actively working to provide the NURs with the documents in question as quickly as possible. The NURs are now aiming to make initial contact with the affected members by the end of September 2026.

ESDC AND CEIU HAVE AGREED:

Retroactive Period: The Employer agrees to adjust the effective start date for the purpose of retroactive salary calculation for eligible employees to March 26, 2011 (This represents a retroactive period of 7.5 years versus September 13, 2018).

Former Incumbents (Non-Complainants): The Employer agrees to extend eligibility for retroactive salary adjustments to former incumbents who held PSDC positions between March 26, 2011, and September 13, 2018, subject to job validation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a validated former incumbent can demonstrate continuous occupancy of a PSDC position that began prior to March 26, 2011, and continued beyond that date, the retroactive salary will be calculated as of the later of January 1, 2009, or the applicant’s actual start date in the position. This provision applies only to former incumbents whose continuous occupancy of a PSDC position beyond March 26, 2011, is confirmed through the validation process. We are talking about approximately 2000 potential former incumbents who will be considered in this exercise.

→ Following ESDC’s email intended for potentially eligible former incumbents, sent the week of July 13, 2026, 271 people responded that they were affected by this matter, having performed the duties of a Program Services Officer (PM-01) in pension or integrity-related operations between March 26, 2011, and September 13, 2018. This message was sent to 1,149 people. ESDC management must now verify the eligibility of these 271 individuals.

→ ESDC’s message includes:

  • A summary of the March 30, 2026, settlement,
  • Who the settlement applies to,
  • Eligibility criteria,
  • Relevant details for filing a claim, and
  • Next steps.

→ ESDC continues to work towards communicating with the 950 other individuals, either by email or mail.

→ CEIU advises anyone who has not received the message from ESDC to send an email immediately to the following address: EDSC.RT.CPPS-PSDC.LR.ESDC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca stating their name, PRI # in order to receive the message in question.

Finally, regarding the time limit: “In accordance with the agreement reached, claims must be submitted within one (1) year of the agreement’s signing date (March 30, 2026). Any claim received after March 30, 2027 will be deemed ineligible.”

The CEIU will publish a new update no later than September 30, 2026.