ARCHIVED CD 1997-022

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Pay Rates

August 1, 1997

Ottawa, Canada
KlA OS5

SUBJECT: Law Group - New Collective Agreement

1. PURPOSE

1.1 The purpose of this directive is to provide you with revised rates of pay and pay notes for the Law Group (Bargaining Unit Designator (BUD) 21402).

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 The new collective agreement for the Law Group was signed on June 24, 1997.

3. POLICY

3.1 The duration of the collective agreement is from the signature date (June 24, 1997) until February 28, 1999.

3.2 The revised rates of pay were updated on version 458 of the Pay Rates Control File (production date: July 21, 1997).

3.3 The Public Service Staff Relations Act requires that each employee receive all pay adjustments within 90 calendar days of the signing of the collective agreement. Consequently, the 90-day implementation period expires on September 22, 1997.

3.4 The collective agreement provides for the following:

• A lump sum in lieu of retroactivity from March 1, 1997 to June 23, 1997 (pay note 6).
• Restructuring the rates of pay effective June 24, 1997 (pay note 4).
• Economic increases effective June 24, 1997 and March 1, 1998 (pay note 5).

4. PROCEDURES/INSTRUCTIONS

4.1. Restructuring of Pay

Prior to determining the corresponding economic increase rate of pay effective June 24, 1997 ("A" scale of rates), the Paying Office will first position the employee at the rate of pay in the "X" scale of rates (restructured rates) which is nearest to, but not less than the employee's former rate of pay.

Note: The departmental Pay and Benefits Specialist will be responsible for reporting the June 24, 1997 economic increase at a higher rate for employees who are deemed to have moved to the next step in the "X" line following the application of part 2 of Pay Restructure Note 4 (employees paid at the maximum on March 1, 1997).

4.2. Economic Increases

Once the restructured rate of pay has been determined in accordance with paragraph 4.1 above, the employee shall be paid, effective June 24, 1997, in the "A" scale of rates at the rate of pay which is immediately below the employee's rate of pay in the "X" scale of rates.

Effective March 1, 1998, an employee shall be paid in the "B" scale of rates at the rate of pay which is immediately below the employee's rate in the "A" scale of rates. For those employees paid at the minimum rate of pay, they will move to the minimum rate of pay in the "B" scale of rates.

4.3. Lump Sum payment in Lieu of Retroactivity

Employees who are in the bargaining unit on the date of signing of the collective agreement (June 24, 1997) will receive a payment in the form of a lump sum, as compensation for their regularly scheduled hours of work for the period of March 1, 1997 to June 23, 1997.

There is currently no capability in the Regional Pay System to automatically pay such a lump sum payment. Consequently, the departmental Pay and Benefits Specialist will be responsible for completing the necessary pay input requesting the lump sum payment . In the interim, entitlement code 087 must be used for this purpose.

Financial Officers should note that instructions are forthcoming from Treasury Board to address the issue of shortfalls that may occur in the departmental salary budget due to the increase in salary and the lump sum payments resulting from this collective agreement.

4.4 Paying Offices will advise client departments of the implementation details of the LA collective agreement.

5. INQUIRIES

5.1 Any request for information regarding the foregoing should be addressed to your Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Compensation Services Office.

Original Signed by
P. Charko

P. Charko
Director General
Compensation Sector
Government Operational Service

Reference: BUD 21402