If the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (the union) ratifies the 18th Main Public Service Agreement, here is what you need to know if you are in a job linked to a benchmark (BM).

• BM010 – Client Service Worker – at least one person will need to file an appeal within one year of ratification.
• BM099 – Customer Service Representative – no one need file a new appeal as we have an existing appeal related to this BM that we will bring out of abeyance.
• BM365 – Ministry Investigator – at least one person will need to file an appeal within one year of ratification.

Once one person in each of BM010 and BM365 has filed a classification appeal, the appeal will proceed as an "et al", in place of the BM reviews. Through the appeal process, we will be able to undertake a thorough review of the work your position currently performs. If we are unable to agree with the Public Service Agency (PSA) on updated factor ratings, we will be able to pursue a remedy through arbitration, and therefore no one will be prejudiced by the BM review cancellation. 

What changed to decide this is a better approach?

Overall, the BM review process had become more complex and time consuming than originally expected, and that is why we had not even begun work on Component 12 reviews. In the context of the BMs, it is also important to understand that the employer holds these BMs to a higher test because they are foundational or cornerstone BMs, that is, they were part of the original negotiations when the parties were establishing the Plan and other BMs in the 1990s. 

Further, since the late 1990s, the parties have agreed upon many changes and updates to BMs, but the union had never taken any disputed BMs to arbitration. In 2015 and 2016, in BM reviews from earlier collective agreements, we agreed with the PSA on updating some factors in seven BMs, however, we disputed numerous factors before a classification referee. Despite good arguments, we were unsuccessful with any of our disputed factors. We learned through the BM review process that the onus in changing BM ratings is extremely difficult, and we believe that, on balance, there will be greater flexibility to proceed with classification appeals. 

Overall, this will be an administrative change in how we deal with your classification issue under the collective agreement. You will continue to have a full and administratively fair process for your classification appeal. For further details, please refer to the May 29, 2018 letter in the Memorandum of Settlement regarding Benchmark/Reference Job – Review Status.

We will keep you updated with further details upon ratification.

In solidarity,
Maria Middlemiss, Vice President, Component 12 Administrative Services
Matt Damario, 1st Vice Chairperson, Component 12 Administrative Services 
Jennifer Jordan, Staff Representative

Download PDF of notice here to post at your worksite.

UWU/MoveUP