ES SI Collective Bargaining Update: Wage Harmonization
May 22, 2001
Treasury Board and the Association agreed to start addressing immediately pay issues arising out of the fusion of the ES and SI groups. The resulting wage harmonization establishes a single set of pay ranges for SIs and ESs, completed and effective June 21, 2001.
ES Rates of Pay
SI Rates
Combined Rates
Monies required to harmonize the pay ranges include an added value of 2.5% to the top increment of each pay range, back dated to June 22, 2000. In addition, bottom increments are dropped from several pay ranges, with immediate movement of members, again back dated to June 22, 2000.
A second increment is dropped from the bottom of the SI-01 range and the ES-03 range, effective June 22, 2001. Other monies are added to pay ranges in order to complete the harmonization.
Individual members benefit differently from the harmonization exercise, according to their levels and positions on pay lines (please see the document entitled ES Pay Paths or SI Pay Paths in order to trace your new pay position).
Wage adjustments for a three-year contract:
In addition to wage harmonization increases, all wages are increased by 2.5%, back dated to June 22, 2000; then by 2.5% as of June 22, 2001; and finally by 2.5% next year starting on June 22, 2002.
The compounded value of the wage adjustments and of the 2.5% added to the top increment is 10.4% over three years. More than 70% of SSEA members will benefit from the additional 2.5% to the top increment during the life of the agreement.
As a point of reference, 3% compounded over 3 years comes to 9.3%. Some members will see wage adjustments of the order of 20% over the life of the agreement.
Article 24, vacation leave:
Effective the date of signing, an entitlement to 5 weeks and 3 days is recognized for 28 completed years of service. Effective June 22, 2002, an additional entitlement of 4 weeks and 2 days is recognized for 16 years of service, and 5 weeks and 2 days for 27 years of service.
Articles 21.06, 21.07, 21.08, maternity and parental leave, and parental allowance (further to the Memorandum of Agreement signed earlier this year):
Improvements to the parental allowance clause and related improvements to the maternity and parental leave clauses that allow SSEA members to take full advantage of recent changes to the Employment Insurance Act.
SSEA members will see their EI parental benefits topped off to 93% of their wages for a period of 35 weeks (in addition, there are the existing entitlements to maternity allowance of 15 weeks, and an entitlement to 93% of wages for any 2-week waiting period).
Other improvements to the clause include a simplification of the calculation of time owed to the employer on returning to work, which refers to a period of time rather than to hours worked.
Article 28.13, Meal Allowance:
the entitlement has been increased from $9.00 to $9.50.
Article 33, Shift Premium:
The entitlement has been increased from $1.50 an hour to $1.75, for both the shift premium and the week-end premium.
NEW, Leave Without Pay for the Care of the Immediate Family:
Articles 21.09, Leave Without Pay for the Care and Nurturing of Preschool Aged Children), and Article 21.16, Leave Without Pay for the Long-Term Care of a Parent, are replaced with a new clause entitled Leave Without Pay for the Care of the Immediate Family.
Similarly to the former clauses 21.09 and 21.16, the new clause covers parents and pre-school aged children. However, the new clause extends the entitlement to children regardless of age.
The entitlement is for 5 years in total over the period of a career in the Public Service; the minimum period of any instance of such leave is reduced 3 weeks.
Leave taken previously under the replaced clauses and leave that is being taking currently under these replaced clauses do not count in the five-year total. For example, a person who has taken 3 years under what was formerly clause 21.09 and one year under 21.16 would be entitled to the full five years under the new clause.
Article 21.02, bereavement leave:
The entitlement to bereavement leave for a member of the immediate family has been increased from 4 days to 5 days.
The definition of family in the preamble has been extended to include grandparent, thus increasing the entitlement from 1 day to 5 days in such instances.
Article 30, travelling time:
Within 120 days of signing the collective agreement, Treasury Board and SSEA will form a working group to examine various issues related to the article pertaining to travelling time.
Article 2, definition of the term "common law spouse":
The definition of common law spouse no longer includes a requirement for public representation of the spousal union.
Article 35, discipline:
New language is added to broaden the right to have an Association representative present at all meetings related to discipline, not simply the meeting when the member is advised of a decision to take disciplinary action. Where practicable, the employee shall receive a written notice (rather than a verbal notice); and henceforth, the notice will include the specific purpose of the meeting.
Article 11, information to employees joining the bargaining unit:
Treasury Board and SSEA are committed to a pilot project for the duration of the agreement that will address the issue of information pertaining to SSEA that would be provided to employees joining the bargaining unit. The parties will meet within 90 days of signing the agreement in order to design the pilot project.
Article 21.12, leave with pay for family related responsibilities:
SSEA members can take up to two days leave with pay for needs directly related to the adoption or birth of a child (in addition to their parental or maternity leave entitlements). The total entitlement of the article for family related responsibilities has not changed from five days per year. The improvement is the option of taking up to two of these five days for needs directly related to the adoption or birth of a child.
Article 20, designated holidays:
The word territory has been added to the designated holidays clause.
B. Concessions to Treasury Board:
Article 24.07, carry-over of vacation leave:
The wording is changed to make the liquidation provisions clearer, and to make it easier to calculated the entitlement of Public Service employees moving into an ES or SI position.
Appendix C, variable hours of work (C.04, Leave - General):
The wording is simplified.
Appendix B, part time:
Fractions have been changed to decimals.
May 22, 2001
Treasury Board and the Association agreed to start addressing immediately pay issues arising out of the fusion of the ES and SI groups. The resulting wage harmonization establishes a single set of pay ranges for SIs and ESs, completed and effective June 21, 2001.
ES Rates of Pay
SI Rates
Combined Rates
Monies required to harmonize the pay ranges include an added value of 2.5% to the top increment of each pay range, back dated to June 22, 2000. In addition, bottom increments are dropped from several pay ranges, with immediate movement of members, again back dated to June 22, 2000.
A second increment is dropped from the bottom of the SI-01 range and the ES-03 range, effective June 22, 2001. Other monies are added to pay ranges in order to complete the harmonization.
Individual members benefit differently from the harmonization exercise, according to their levels and positions on pay lines (please see the document entitled ES Pay Paths or SI Pay Paths in order to trace your new pay position).
Wage adjustments for a three-year contract:
In addition to wage harmonization increases, all wages are increased by 2.5%, back dated to June 22, 2000; then by 2.5% as of June 22, 2001; and finally by 2.5% next year starting on June 22, 2002.
The compounded value of the wage adjustments and of the 2.5% added to the top increment is 10.4% over three years. More than 70% of SSEA members will benefit from the additional 2.5% to the top increment during the life of the agreement.
As a point of reference, 3% compounded over 3 years comes to 9.3%. Some members will see wage adjustments of the order of 20% over the life of the agreement.
Article 24, vacation leave:
Effective the date of signing, an entitlement to 5 weeks and 3 days is recognized for 28 completed years of service. Effective June 22, 2002, an additional entitlement of 4 weeks and 2 days is recognized for 16 years of service, and 5 weeks and 2 days for 27 years of service.
Articles 21.06, 21.07, 21.08, maternity and parental leave, and parental allowance (further to the Memorandum of Agreement signed earlier this year):
Improvements to the parental allowance clause and related improvements to the maternity and parental leave clauses that allow SSEA members to take full advantage of recent changes to the Employment Insurance Act.
SSEA members will see their EI parental benefits topped off to 93% of their wages for a period of 35 weeks (in addition, there are the existing entitlements to maternity allowance of 15 weeks, and an entitlement to 93% of wages for any 2-week waiting period).
Other improvements to the clause include a simplification of the calculation of time owed to the employer on returning to work, which refers to a period of time rather than to hours worked.
Article 28.13, Meal Allowance:
the entitlement has been increased from $9.00 to $9.50.
Article 33, Shift Premium:
The entitlement has been increased from $1.50 an hour to $1.75, for both the shift premium and the week-end premium.
NEW, Leave Without Pay for the Care of the Immediate Family:
Articles 21.09, Leave Without Pay for the Care and Nurturing of Preschool Aged Children), and Article 21.16, Leave Without Pay for the Long-Term Care of a Parent, are replaced with a new clause entitled Leave Without Pay for the Care of the Immediate Family.
Similarly to the former clauses 21.09 and 21.16, the new clause covers parents and pre-school aged children. However, the new clause extends the entitlement to children regardless of age.
The entitlement is for 5 years in total over the period of a career in the Public Service; the minimum period of any instance of such leave is reduced 3 weeks.
Leave taken previously under the replaced clauses and leave that is being taking currently under these replaced clauses do not count in the five-year total. For example, a person who has taken 3 years under what was formerly clause 21.09 and one year under 21.16 would be entitled to the full five years under the new clause.
Article 21.02, bereavement leave:
The entitlement to bereavement leave for a member of the immediate family has been increased from 4 days to 5 days.
The definition of family in the preamble has been extended to include grandparent, thus increasing the entitlement from 1 day to 5 days in such instances.
Article 30, travelling time:
Within 120 days of signing the collective agreement, Treasury Board and SSEA will form a working group to examine various issues related to the article pertaining to travelling time.
Article 2, definition of the term "common law spouse":
The definition of common law spouse no longer includes a requirement for public representation of the spousal union.
Article 35, discipline:
New language is added to broaden the right to have an Association representative present at all meetings related to discipline, not simply the meeting when the member is advised of a decision to take disciplinary action. Where practicable, the employee shall receive a written notice (rather than a verbal notice); and henceforth, the notice will include the specific purpose of the meeting.
Article 11, information to employees joining the bargaining unit:
Treasury Board and SSEA are committed to a pilot project for the duration of the agreement that will address the issue of information pertaining to SSEA that would be provided to employees joining the bargaining unit. The parties will meet within 90 days of signing the agreement in order to design the pilot project.
Article 21.12, leave with pay for family related responsibilities:
SSEA members can take up to two days leave with pay for needs directly related to the adoption or birth of a child (in addition to their parental or maternity leave entitlements). The total entitlement of the article for family related responsibilities has not changed from five days per year. The improvement is the option of taking up to two of these five days for needs directly related to the adoption or birth of a child.
Article 20, designated holidays:
The word territory has been added to the designated holidays clause.
B. Concessions to Treasury Board:
Article 24.07, carry-over of vacation leave:
The wording is changed to make the liquidation provisions clearer, and to make it easier to calculated the entitlement of Public Service employees moving into an ES or SI position.
Appendix C, variable hours of work (C.04, Leave - General):
The wording is simplified.
Appendix B, part time:
Fractions have been changed to decimals.