Article 27.4 of the Public Service Master Collective Agreement provides for substitution (or relief) pay to employees who are designated by the employer to:

• perform the principal duties of a higher paying position; or 
• temporarily substitute in a higher paying position; or
• perform duties of a higher paying position which would warrant a higher classification.

To assist in determining when substitution (relief) pay is payable, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed off by the parties in November 2005. That MOA reads:

Store Clerks shall receive substitution pay in accordance with Clause 27.4 of the Master Agreement for substitution in a higher paying supervisory position if the length of the assignment is equal to or greater than 2.5 hours. However, substitution pay shall also be paid where the work entails the opening and/or the closing of the liquor store, in which case the Store Clerk shall be paid substitution pay for all time worked in a supervisory position, even though the period of substitution may be less than 2.5 hours.

Store Clerks shall continue the practice of not claiming substitution pay for covering supervisor's rest breaks, meal breaks, or other similar short absences.

The Employer shall continue its practice with respect to the payment of substitution pay for store supervisors who relieve in higher paying positions covering off absences due to vacation. The Employer shall also continue its practice of paying substitution pay to Store Clerks who substitute in supervisory positions during vacation periods.

What this means is that substitution (relief) pay is only payable if the Store Clerk is asked to relieve for a period of 2.5 hours or longer, unless the Clerk is asked to open or close the store. For example, a Store Clerk would not be entitled to substitution pay if asked to cover a one hour "break" between when one supervisor's shift ends and the next supervisor's shift starts. A Store Clerk would be paid one hour of substitution pay if the Clerk were asked to relieve for the last hour the store was open and had to close the store at the end of the shift.

If you have any questions about when you are entitled to substitution (relief) pay, please speak with your Steward and/or Manager.

In solidarity

Kimberlee MacGregor
Component Vice President

Download PDF of notice here.

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