EC Collective Bargaining Update
May 7, 2008
Work on CAPE’s EC pay proposals commenced in earnest only in early April as it was dependent on a preliminary analysis of the EC conversion data base. In late March, the Association received a copy of the data base that will be used at the bargaining table for the negotiation of EC pay rates. The information provided with the data base will be a very important building block for CAPE’s overall pay proposal as the real costs of pay adjustments for the post conversion era can only be determined with an analysis of the potential distribution of EC employees across the pay grid.
In addition the Association is reviewing information that will be used for a longitudinal study of pay relativity in the federal public service that will focus mostly on professional groups. We are also preparing a form of job matching exercise for the purpose of comparing wages in the private sector to the wages of our members across the federal public service. This and other information, including general market indicators, will be packaged for our next meeting with the employer at the table in order to present a comprehensive pay proposal.
It should be noted that both parties at the bargaining table have done considerable work so far on most proposals that have only incidental costs. Proposals regarding various types of leave and other direct cost proposals have been discussed but not in depth as the employer legitimately wishes to have some idea of our pay proposals before committing to or rejecting additional costs.
In part because this stage of bargaining has been work intensive and in part because the Association was initiating its charter challenge to the employer’s refusal to bargain pension related matters, as well as classification and staffing matters, it was not possible to meet with the employer as scheduled in late April. CAPE requested and the employer agreed to postpone table discussions until late May.
May 7, 2008
Work on CAPE’s EC pay proposals commenced in earnest only in early April as it was dependent on a preliminary analysis of the EC conversion data base. In late March, the Association received a copy of the data base that will be used at the bargaining table for the negotiation of EC pay rates. The information provided with the data base will be a very important building block for CAPE’s overall pay proposal as the real costs of pay adjustments for the post conversion era can only be determined with an analysis of the potential distribution of EC employees across the pay grid.
In addition the Association is reviewing information that will be used for a longitudinal study of pay relativity in the federal public service that will focus mostly on professional groups. We are also preparing a form of job matching exercise for the purpose of comparing wages in the private sector to the wages of our members across the federal public service. This and other information, including general market indicators, will be packaged for our next meeting with the employer at the table in order to present a comprehensive pay proposal.
It should be noted that both parties at the bargaining table have done considerable work so far on most proposals that have only incidental costs. Proposals regarding various types of leave and other direct cost proposals have been discussed but not in depth as the employer legitimately wishes to have some idea of our pay proposals before committing to or rejecting additional costs.
In part because this stage of bargaining has been work intensive and in part because the Association was initiating its charter challenge to the employer’s refusal to bargain pension related matters, as well as classification and staffing matters, it was not possible to meet with the employer as scheduled in late April. CAPE requested and the employer agreed to postpone table discussions until late May.