SAM - Special Bulletin 2011-006

Subject: Potential Postal Disruption

June 2, 2011

1. Purpose

1.1. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform compensation advisors and Public Works and Government Services Canada's (PWGSC) regional pay offices (PO's) of temporary work procedures in the event of a postal disruption.

2. Background

2.1. Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have recently been in contract negotiations; and in the event of a strike, mail delivery services offered through Canada Post will be affected.

3. Policy

3.1. Should a postal disruption occur, alternate means of communication will be required between PO's, PWGSC Public Service Pension Centre (Pension Centre) and all departments, Crown corporations, agencies and territorial governments which are subject to the public service pension plan.

3.2. As part of the centralization of pension services, the Pension Centre is responsible for any communication with plan members regarding the impact of a postal disruption on their services. For any such inquiries, compensation advisors will direct plan members to the "Contact Us" Web pages, both located on the Your Public Service Pension and Benefits Web portal, or advise them to contact the Pension Centre if they do not have Internet access.

4. Procedures and Instructions

4.1. In the event of a postal disruption, compensation advisors must send documents, by fax, to PO's and the Pension Centre instead of using the normal mail system. For example, the PWGSC-TPSGC 4242 - Termination/Retirement Information - This site is only accessible to federal government employees, and only to federal departments and agencies. form is used by client departments, Crown corporations and agencies in conjunction with PO's to certify final salary and contribution information. It is an essential document required by the Pension Centre to process a pension benefit payment. This directive should be read in conjunction with the Compensation Directive 2011-003 entitled "Amendment to the Termination/Retirement Information" form (PWGSC-TPSGC 4242 - Termination/Retirement Information - This site is only accessible to federal government employees, and only to federal departments and agencies.), formerly known as the "Certification Notice - Pension Support System".

4.2. Likewise, PO's must send documents, by fax, to the Pension Centre instead of using the normal mail system, or when returning documents to departments, Crown corporations and agencies.

4.3. Once the normal mail service resumes, original documents are NOT to be sent by normal mail, unless requested by the Pension Center. They must be kept by the sender for future use, if necessary.

4.4. For your reference, the following are the fax numbers for PO's and the Pension Centre:

• ATLANTIC REGION - Halifax
  • 902-426-7969
• ONTARIO REGION - Toronto
  • 416-512-5214
• PACIFIC REGION - Vancouver
  • 604-666-2152
• QUEBEC REGION - Montreal
  • 514-496-5891
• WESTERN REGION - Edmonton
  • 780-497-3525
• NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION - Ottawa
  • 613-952-9809
• PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION CENTRE - Matane
  • 418-566-6298
• EMPLOYER SUPPORT SERVICES - Matane
  • 418-566-2757

5. Inquiries

5.1. Any inquiries on the information contained in this directive should be addressed to your Public Works and Government Services Canada Compensation Services Office.

Reference(s): CJA 4225-1, CJA 7850-3, CJA 9203-11(1)(a),(b)