Professionals Making A Difference
Thank you to all members who participated in the PEA bargaining survey and provided follow-up comments to our last bargaining bulletin, which summarized priorities that we will pursue in negotiations. We start at the bargaining table on April 19th and will bargain on Mondays through June. The University anticipates that both CUPE (917, 951, and Sessionals) and the UVic faculty association bargaining will also take place while the PEA negotiations are proceeding.
On March 31st, 2010, the University requested an extension to the Critical Skills Adjustments Letter of Understanding, which provides adjustments to various PEA positions and reflects the fact that many PEA positions are paid less than rates in the external labour market. The Letter of Understanding required the University to provide the PEA with notice of its intent to propose a new term for the Critical Skills Adjustment Letter or to allow the adjustment to expire, by March 31st, 2010. The PEA agreed to extend the period for the University to provide notice until May 31st, 2010, as the University had otherwise indicated it would serve notice of a one-year extension to the letter. The critical skills adjustments for the most part have been in place since 2001 and 2004 and the PEA has indicated to the University that any proposed diminishment of these adjustments will be of very significant concern to the PEA and its members.
There have been four major settlements reached in the public sector, although some await ratification. Health facilities employees (HEU), community health employees (BCGEU, CUPE, HEU, PEA, etc.), the public service (BCGEU), and licensed professionals in the public service (PEA) have followed the provincial government’s very restrictive mandate of no general wage increases over two-year terms. There were some market adjustments for licensed practical nurses in the health sector agreements and employment security was provided in both public service settlements. All of the settlements have compensation re-opener clauses should the government’s mandate change from 0% and 0%.
Your bargaining committee will provide regular updates as bargaining proceeds.
UVic Bargaining Committee:
Jonathan Foweraker, Co-op Education Coordinator
John Foxgord, Manager, Project Management Office
Jane Godfrey, Manager, Development Services
Sandra Guerreiro, Audience Services Manager
Lynn McCaughey, Career Educator
Matt Stiegemeyer, Manager, Student Marketing and Communications
Scott McCannell, PEA Labour Relations Officer
