Federal researchers gain scientific integrity clause in new collective agreement

The union representing federal researchers has signed a collective agreement with the government that includes a clause dealing with the right of members to speak about their science and research without being designated a departmental spokesperson as well as a memorandum of agreement that commits departments to develop scientific integrity policies and procedures in the coming months. The Research Group of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada is the second to enshrine scientific integrity into its collective agreement following the successful conclusion of negotiations between the government and PIPSC’s Applied Science and Patent Examination Group. Still in negotiations with Treasury Board are agreements with members at the National Research Council, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. PIPSC describes the latest agreement as an “historic and unprecedented achievement”.