PIPSC says president Jennifer Carr ‘on leave’; Carr says she was suspended

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Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada president Jennifer Carr announced on social media this week that she had been suspended from her position.

In a post on Facebook, Carr wrote Thursday that she was on leave with pay, but that she had been stripped of all duties and access to the union’s network, building and staff as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

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“It is always better to sleep before acting upon shocking news, so let me set the record straight,” Carr’s post said. “I have been suspended as PIPSC President.”

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Carr noted in her Facebook remarks that she was aware there had been complaints made against her, noting that the investigation “has only just started.”

“I was also told that due process and procedural fairness would be ensured,” Carr said,

“This has not been the case.”

A PIPSC news release said that, as of Wednesday evening, Carr was “on leave,” with vice-president Eva Henshaw designated as acting president.

“Continuing to provide the high-quality services our members expect and deserve is our top priority,” said Henshaw, who was elected to the PIPSC board of directors in 2021. “I am ready to serve our membership in this role and will continue to work alongside our professional staff to ensure a smooth transition.”

There was no mention of suspension nor explanation for the change.

In an email Friday, PIPSC spokesperson Stéphanie Montreuil reaffirmed that Carr had not been suspended, but was on leave.

“While I cannot share more information at this time, PIPSC is following due process as required by our policies,” Montreuil said.

Carr said on Facebook she believed “the genesis of the complaints” was based on a “complex set” of misunderstandings.

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According to the PIPSC website, Carr took on the role of union president in January 2022 after being elected in November 2021. A longtime public servant, she has worked for the federal government for around 20 years, most recently as environmental engineer at the Department of National Defence.

Carr has been involved with the union for the same amount of time, starting out as a steward in the Applied Science and Patent Examination Group. She has served as a group executive and has been on the PIPSC board of directors representing the National Capital Region.

In her Facebook post, Carr said confidentiality of the process was “broken from the very start.”

“I raised this (lack of confidentiality) immediately as information was being sent without encryption, discussions were taking place with non-essential staff in the meeting and only one side was being openly shared,” Carr said. “However, the board has decided to only hear one side of the situation and has acted as judge and jury.”

Following union policies, Carr said, a suspension can only be imposed after a special general meeting is held, adding that taking action without due process is “oppression of a director.”

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“I have a lawyer and will be taking all steps necessary to ensure that process is followed,” Carr said. “Alternatively, the members can request a special general meeting be called to have the board explain their actions.”

According to its website, PIPSC represents more than 70,000 members, making it the “largest union in Canada representing scientists and professionals” employed by the federal government as well as some provincial and territorial governments.

Carr declined to share additional comments on the issue. This newspaper was continuing to seek further clarification from PIPSC.

PIPSC isn’t the only union that has recently gone through leadership tumult.

Nathan Prier took on the role of president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees on Jan. 1, becoming that organization’s third president in less than a year.

Prier succeeded Camille Awada, who had resigned after stepping in as president after the resignation of Greg Phillips earlier last year.

Awada resigned in early November after antisemitic social-media posts by him dating back to 2018 and 2019 began circulating among union members. Phillips cited personal reasons when he resigned last May, followed by allegations of impropriety.

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