Arbitral Award and New Collective Agreement for Library of Parliament Research Officers and Research Assistants
June 14, 2001
Ottawa, June 14, 2001... Ottawa, Pursuant to an arbitral award rendered on June 11, 2001, Research Officers and Research Assistants employed at the Library of Parliament now have revised terms and conditions of employment. Although negotiations began on June 8, 2000, the parties were unable to reach agreement on three issues: pay, acting pay and the eligibility of members for a bilingual bonus. On October 12, 2000 the Library of Parliament filed a request for arbitration pursuant to Section 50 of the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.
The bargaining unit in question is comprised of 64 Senior Analysts, Research Officers, Research Assistants and Research Editors as well as a Statistical Officer. These are the people who provide research and analysis to members of the Senate and the House of Commons.
Going into arbitration, the Employer's position was that there would be no bilingual bonuses, no reduction of the qualifying period for acting pay, no increases above 1.75% and 2.75% over a two year period and no pay increases by means of added increments.
The arbirtral award grants a 2.5% increase for Research Officers and Research Assistants retroactive to May 1, 2000 and a 3% increase effective May 1, 2001. Effective May 1, 2000 an increment of $1,472.00 and $1,709.00 will be added to the top of the Research Assistant Junior Working Level and Working Level respectively, while an increment equalling 50% of the difference between the maximum and penultimate step will be added to the top of pay scales for all other positions in the bargaining unit. The pay ranges will also be comprised of six steps at each level effective May 1, 2000 by removing extra steps at the bottom. The collective agreement expires on June 15, 2002.
The arbitral award also granted the bilingual bonus to employees required to work in both official languages and acting pay to employees who are required to perform the duties of a higher position for at least 5 consecutive working days.
Association President Bill Krause stated "We would have preferred to reach an agreement at the bargaining table, but the Library of Parliament refused to move on their pay offer of 1.75% and 2.75%. Moreover, we simply could not accept the Library's steadfast refusal to grant bilingual bonuses to employees who are required to provide services to Parliament in both official languages. We are also pleased that the award includes additional steps in the pay ranges which allow employees who have reached, or will reach, the maximum of the range more pay."
Prior to proceeding to arbitration, agreement was reached at the bargaining table on a number of issues including improved bereavement leave entitlements, enhanced parental leave entitlements and expanded grounds on which discrimination is prohibited.
June 14, 2001
Ottawa, June 14, 2001... Ottawa, Pursuant to an arbitral award rendered on June 11, 2001, Research Officers and Research Assistants employed at the Library of Parliament now have revised terms and conditions of employment. Although negotiations began on June 8, 2000, the parties were unable to reach agreement on three issues: pay, acting pay and the eligibility of members for a bilingual bonus. On October 12, 2000 the Library of Parliament filed a request for arbitration pursuant to Section 50 of the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.
The bargaining unit in question is comprised of 64 Senior Analysts, Research Officers, Research Assistants and Research Editors as well as a Statistical Officer. These are the people who provide research and analysis to members of the Senate and the House of Commons.
Going into arbitration, the Employer's position was that there would be no bilingual bonuses, no reduction of the qualifying period for acting pay, no increases above 1.75% and 2.75% over a two year period and no pay increases by means of added increments.
The arbirtral award grants a 2.5% increase for Research Officers and Research Assistants retroactive to May 1, 2000 and a 3% increase effective May 1, 2001. Effective May 1, 2000 an increment of $1,472.00 and $1,709.00 will be added to the top of the Research Assistant Junior Working Level and Working Level respectively, while an increment equalling 50% of the difference between the maximum and penultimate step will be added to the top of pay scales for all other positions in the bargaining unit. The pay ranges will also be comprised of six steps at each level effective May 1, 2000 by removing extra steps at the bottom. The collective agreement expires on June 15, 2002.
The arbitral award also granted the bilingual bonus to employees required to work in both official languages and acting pay to employees who are required to perform the duties of a higher position for at least 5 consecutive working days.
Association President Bill Krause stated "We would have preferred to reach an agreement at the bargaining table, but the Library of Parliament refused to move on their pay offer of 1.75% and 2.75%. Moreover, we simply could not accept the Library's steadfast refusal to grant bilingual bonuses to employees who are required to provide services to Parliament in both official languages. We are also pleased that the award includes additional steps in the pay ranges which allow employees who have reached, or will reach, the maximum of the range more pay."
Prior to proceeding to arbitration, agreement was reached at the bargaining table on a number of issues including improved bereavement leave entitlements, enhanced parental leave entitlements and expanded grounds on which discrimination is prohibited.