July 29, 2010

Final wage rates for the facilities subsector Rehabilitation Assistant, Program Coordinator I (formerly Activity Worker III) and Program Coordinator II (formerly Activity Worker IV) benchmarks have been determined by classification arbitrator John Kinzie.

Language and wage rate changes were negotiated during the “Page 209” benchmark series review in 2008 and 2009 for affected members in the Facilities Bargaining Association.

These three benchmarks received an “interim” rate, retroactive to April 1, 2008, in the implementation agreement.  The unions took the issue of the final wage rates before Kinzie in classification hearings held on April 12 and 22.

Kinzie awarded the following rates:

These new wage rates will be effective July 23, 2010, the date the arbitrator published his award.

Kinzie was clear that his decision was based on classification principles: “…the current pay scale and its internal equities weighed against the significance of the change in duties and responsibilities reflected in the new or revised benchmark.” He also applied the same principles where job qualifications were changed in a benchmark.

The unions expect that employers will implement these wage adjustments as soon as possible.  Should there be problems in receiving these new rates, contact your local shop steward.

International Union of Operating Engineers is supporting CUPE in the disparance of Lyle and Marie McCann. We are urging our members to support the seach for Lyle and Marie McCann, family members of a Cupe 30 member who have been missing since July 3.

The elderly couple disappeared on the road between St. Albert, Albert and Abbotsford, British Columbia. Their burned – out motor home was abandoned near Edson, Alberta.

Residents of Prince George, British Columbia have recently spotted the McCann’s SUV, according to media reports.

You can help by circulating photos of the McCanns and information about their missing vehicle, a light green Hyundai Tucson with the license plate ZPK 289.

1600 UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Renaissance Hotel, Westin Bayshore and Four Seasons are currently working without a union contract. There is little to no progress in bargaining. The hotels are refusing to even discuss key issues for Local 40 members like housekeeping workload and the devasting fake “green” program at the Westin Bayshore designed to slash housekeepers’ jobs.

Major protest at the Hyatt on July 22 at 5:00pm.

It has come to the attention of the union that some employers have not yet implemented new clerical members that resulted from the clerical benchmark review contained in the 2006-2010 agreement (“page208″).

Under the final settlement and implementation agreement reached in January, health employers to implement the new rates of pay for benchmarks covered by the review no later than April 1, 2010.

The adjustments are retroactive to April 1, 2007, and health employers were also required to provide retroactive payments by no later than May 13.

It’s important that you contact your union if work is matched to one of the affected benchmarks your employer has not adjusted your pay rate or provided you with retroactive pay.

Please review the following list of benchmarks to see if you may be affected.

Finance and Payroll

• Benchmark 10205 Clerk IV, Accounts Receivable – previously Grid 16 is now Grid 17
• Benchmark 10206 Clerk IV, Accounts Payable – previously Grid 16 is now Grid 17
• Benchmark 10209 Clerk V, Accounts Receivable (Patient Billing) – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10210 Clerk V, Accounts Payable – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10212 Accounting – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10703 Payroll – previously Grid 16 is now Grid 17
• Benchmark 10704 Payroll Supervisor I – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10705 Payroll Supervisor II – previously Grid 24 is now Grid 25
• Benchmark 10706 Payroll Supervisor III – previously Grid 26 is now Grid 27

Please raise this issue with your employer and contact you local shop steward.