Bargaining
October 31, 2012
PSAC demands full consultation on review of public service pay system
Late this summer, the PSAC started receiving reports that the government was looking into eliminating the practice of “pay on time” currently afforded to indeterminate employees and some term employees.
Specifically, what we heard was that the government is considering a switch to a “pay-in-arrears” method of payment. Currently, employees are paid on Wednesday every two weeks for work that is completed up until the end of the pay week. A pay-in-arrears system would pay for work completed up until the end of the previous pay week.
The PSAC has now confirmed that the Public Works and Government Services group responsible for the modernization of IT solutions for employees' pay is comparing the current system to other pay systems that pay in arrears, with possible implementation in 2013.
We know that any move to arrears pay would impact on member's bi-weekly pay, even if it was implemented over a whole year. We have therefore voiced our concerns to the government about these plans and the way they are being carried out.
Collective agreements clearly specify that full consultation around any actions that could impact the terms and conditions of members' employment must be entered into upon the request of either party.
I have advised Treasury Board that the union expects consultation around these plans to begin as soon as possible.
We wish to underscore that it is our understanding that at this point no decisions have been made.
It is my firm undertaking that the PSAC will do everything in its power to ensure that any decisions that are made will have limited impact on the regularity and amounts of the pay PSAC members receive every two weeks.
In solidarity,
Robyn
Date Modified : 2012/11/07
