Federal scientists gain scientific integrity clause in new collective agreement

Flush from its success in negotiating a new scientific integrity clause in its contract for federal scientists, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) plans to lend support to the US scientific community in an expected battle with the incoming administration of president Donald Trump. PIPSC's campaign to convince the federal government to unmuzzle scientists bore fruit last week with the inclusion of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in its tentative contract for government scientists that enshrines their right to speak freely and publicly about their research.

In an interview with RE$EARCH MONEY, PIPSC president Debi Daviau says the union's struggle was aided by groups like Evidence for Democracy (E4D) and the US Union for Concerned Scientists (UCS). The years-long PIPSC campaign attracted international attention and support from the scientific community including the UCS whose efforts ranged from letter writing to participation in a 2012 panel in Vancouver on the issue of restricting the ability of federal scientists to communicate their research findings publicly (R$, February 27/12).

Trump's anti-science campaign rhetoric, support for the fossil fuel sector and appointments to Cabinet of climate change skeptics and oil executives has raised concerns over scientific integrity. The editors of Scientific American have called Trump's views on science "shockingly ignorant" and the USC has launched a letter-writing campaign to convince the Trump administration of the need for "a strong and open culture of science".

"Now we're worrying about science in the US and we will reciprocate those efforts that US scientists made on our behalf," says Daviau, adding that PIPSC's success in Canada serves as a model for other nations.

Canada leads the way

PIPSC was successful in convincing the Treasury Board (the lead negotiator for federal employment contracts) to accept an article in the new collective agreement and appended to the MOA that establishes a framework for the joint development of scientific integrity policies and guidelines. The article helps to ensure that protection of scientists' right to speak freely will survive changes in government. Of the 55,000 public service professionals represented by PIPSC, 15,000 are scientists, engineers and researchers spread across federal science-based departments and agencies.

Daviau credits the support of E4D in its efforts to include the science integrity clause in the tentative agreement. E4D launched in 2012 with an unprecedented "Funeral Procession for the Death of Evidence"" — the largest scientific protest in Canadian history (R$, July 31/12). It later morphed into an effective lobbying organization, often collaborating with PIPSC.

"E4D is focused outwards on the scientific community in Canada and around the world and assisted with petitions and support documents," says Daviau. "Third-party validations are really important and having such a credible organization was absolutely helpful."

Daviau says the union's success means it can focus on other pressing issues faced by government scientists.

"We pivoted even before the new (Liberal) government came in with the Innovation Agenda ... To regain science capacity we need 1,500 new scientists and researchers," she says. "We also want to see more government-academic collaboration and more women in science and all of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) groups ...The space created by the MOA will allow us to address these lingering issues."

The Liberal government's vocal support for science and evidence-informed decision making made PIPSC's efforts to enshrine scientific integrity much more effective, including the ability to disseminate the changes throughout government.

"It took a little bit of coaxing and explaining, but once we got that understanding ... there's been a turnaround in our relationship with Treasury Board," says Daviau. "There's been a slowly changing culture and I appreciate (Treasury Board Secretariat president Scott) Brison's willingness to make good on this agreement.

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