We have had several people reach out to get more information on the rationale behind the grid level changes in the Memorandum of Settlement for the 18th Main Public Service Agreement. I wanted to reach out directly to provide some background and context for the proposed changes.

Back in 1998, the union and employer agreed that all positions in government should be evaluated using gender neutral and pay equity principles. This created the Public Service Job Evaluation Plan (the Plan) that is used now. This meant that jobs across the public service were to be evaluated using one Plan, instead of several different job evaluation plans. This was an important step towards pay equity so that predominantly female jobs were evaluated using the same Plan as predominantly male jobs. 

This shift in Plans resulted in grid shifts in numerous different positions, and in 2001 Appendix N was implemented to "broad band" all classifications grid 15 and higher. This ensured only a 3- grid spread between them. Classifications under grid 15 were not addressed in Appendix N, and have remained outstanding to this day, with no commitment from the government to address any other classifications.

In this round of bargaining, we fought hard to get this issue on the government's radar and to ensure movement for members at the lower grid levels. These negotiations resulted in increases to grids 7 and 14. While we were not able to correct the problem for all the classifications below grid 15 during this one round of bargaining, it was not because we did not fight.

Your bargaining committee fought for this, and was for the first time, able to secure a letter confirming this government's commitment to explore options to address these concerns in the future, including in bargaining. The Union remains committed to addressing all positions currently at the lower levels at the next possible opportunity. While this may not help you now, your bargaining committee is confident that this was the best deal for members that could be achieved in this round. It includes significant gains in compensation, benefits, memoranda, and contract language that will improve the working lives of members, including members in component 12. 

As you know, members now get to vote on whether or not to accept this agreement. 

Please take the time to review the entire agreement posted to the member portal. It is a large document and it will take some time to read through. Without a doubt you will find articles that will benefit you even if the TMAs/grid adjustments for your classification are not part of this agreement. 

The best place to see the agreement, is through the annotated PDF version of the Memorandum of Settlement for the Eighteenth Main Public Service Agreement that is now available for download from the BCGEU Member Portal site. If you have not already accessed your Member Portal account you can register here: https://members.bcgeu.ca/signup

Thanks for all that you do,

Maria Middlemiss
Component 12 VP, BCGEU

UWU/MoveUP