Settlement reached on facilities “page 209” benchmark series review

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The Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) - in which
HEU is the lead negotiator - has reached
an agreement with the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC)
on the “page 209” benchmark series review.

The settlement includes revised benchmarks, including
wage grids and an implementation agreement. The benchmark review stemmed from
the 2006-2010 facilities subsector contract, which allocated a maximum of two
million dollars to be spent on wage grids for revised benchmarks, with no more
than one million dollars applied per year.

After a year of progress on benchmark language
changes, talks broke down when HEABC insisted that employers’ cost of related
benefits be taken from the two million dollar fund. That issue was settled in
July during arbitration with labour mediator Vince Ready, which got talks
between the parties back on track.

“We’re pleased that a significant number of our
members affected by this benchmark review will receive wage increases,” says
assistant secretary-business manager Bonnie Pearson. “Committee members from each job, as well as Provincial Executive
representative Sandra Giesbrecht, were
very concrete, articulate and persuasive in providing evidence and suggestions.
We could not have made this progress without them.”

Pearson acknowledges that it’s been a very long
process to reach a settlement. “These were lengthy negotiations,” notes
Pearson, “but both parties persevered and worked hard, which resulted in a
positive outcome.”

Benchmark revisions and rate adjustments

As a result of the benchmark review, the language in
many benchmarks was revised to reflect increased complexity, responsibilities
and/or expanded scope. For some, there were revisions to the required
education, training or experience. These benchmarks received wage grid
increases (see table below).

Some benchmark language changes were of a
“housekeeping” nature - meaning that the revision did not change the scope of
work in terms of complexity, level of responsibility or qualifications. Therefore,
there’s no grid rate increase for those benchmarks - Ophthalmic Technician I,
Stores Attendant II and III, and Perfusionist Assistant.

Through the review process, it was determined that
some benchmarks would remain the same as they generally reflect the current work
performed. There were also instances where no one was matched to the benchmark.
As a result, there were no revisions to the language or to existing wage grids
for this group of benchmarks.

In addition, the parties agreed that there may be
instances where an individual position or job may not be reflected in the
benchmarks. As such, both sides retain their rights – outlined in the Maintenance Agreement and Classification
Manual of the Facilities Subsector Collective Agreement – which includes
the right to file job review requests (JRR).

Rehabilitation Assistants and Activity
Workers III and IV

The parties agreed to interim rate adjustments for the
term of the 2006-2010 facilities contract for three benchmarks: Rehabilitation
Assistant, Activity Worker III (now to be called Program Coordinator I), and Activity
Worker IV (now to be called Program Coordinator II).

The duties, responsibilities and/or qualifications
were revised for these benchmarks. However, the funds allocated were
insufficient for the parties to reach agreement on the appropriate wage grid. The
FBA will refer these three benchmarks to the classification referee to
determine the final grid rate placement. Any grid rate change that comes out of
this process will be effective on the award date or April 1, 2010, whichever is later.

Retroactive date

Based on the funds available and the number of members
covered by this review, the parties agreed that the effective date for all
revised benchmarks will be April 1, 2008. This means that wage grid increases will be retroactive to April 1, 2008.

Although the allocation of one million dollars per
year sounds significant, wage rate changes add up quickly when the total number
of full-time equivalents (FTEs) is put into the picture. For example, a one
grid increase of approximately 34 cents/hour for 140 FTEs across the province
costs about $92,820.

Implementation agreement

The implementation agreement contains language to
protect members where the benchmark qualifications have changed. It’s expected
that positions and members currently matched to a benchmark will continue to be
matched to the revised benchmark.

The settlement also states that the FBA retains the
right – under the Maintenance Agreement
– to take outstanding or new JRRs forward. There are, however, some outstanding
JRRs that may be resolved as a result of this benchmark review.

Benchmarks reviewed

The following benchmarks were reviewed in the “page
209” process: Coordinator of Volunteers I and II, Accounting Supervisor, Accountant
I and II, Medical Records Technician, Activity Worker III (now to be called
Program Coordinator I), Activity Worker IV (now to be called Program
Coordinator II), Nursing Assistant II (Rehabilitation Assistant), Social
Service Assistant I and II, ECG Assistant, Cardiac Ultrasound Technician, EEG
Assistant, Orthopaedic Technologist, Ophthalmic Technician I, II and III, Pathology
Attendant I and III, Pathology Attendant II (Tissue Bank, Supervisor),
Perfusionist Assistant, Physiological Laboratory Tech I and II, Renal Dialysis
Technician I, II and III, Stores Attendant I, II, III, IV and V, Stores
Attendant III (Receiver) and Stores Attendant IV (Receiver).

New grids and pay rates

Publication of benchmarks

The parties must publish the revised benchmarks by
December 1, 2009, and employers are required to pay the new rates to affected
members as soon as possible, but no
later than three pay periods after the publishing date. Retroactive
payments – back to April 1, 2008 – must be made within six (6) pay periods.

Once the benchmarks are finalized, they will be
published, sent to each local, and posted on HEU’s
website by December 1, 2009.

Watch for updates on the union’s website.

For more information, contact your local servicing
representative.