May 21, 2008
Pay Equity Victory at the Old Port of Montreal
On May 15, 2008, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Old Port of Montréal signed an agreement providing for the settlement of a pay equity complaint which had been filed by the PSAC with the Canadian Human Rights Commission on October 22, 2003. The complaint alleged that the job evaluation system used by the Employer was biased against incumbents of female dominated jobs located within the PSAC's two bargaining units at the Old Port. In an attempt to resolve this complaint outside of a potentially prolonged and costly tribunal process, on April 19, 2005, the parties agreed to the creation of a joint committee which was given the mandate to develop and implement a gender neutral job evaluation system applicable to all members of the PSAC at the Old Port. The May 15, 2008 agreement is the culmination of three years of work on the part of the joint committee and effectively resolves the issues raised in the PSAC's October 22, 2003 complaint. More specifically, the agreement provides for:
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Lump sum pay equity adjustments of up to 32 % annually, retroactive to October 22, 2003. These adjustments will benefit incumbents of 80% of female dominated jobs within the PSAC's two bargaining units at the Old Port;
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Salary increases of up to 32% effective July 1, 2008 to close the pay gaps for incumbents of female dominated jobs which had been paid less than male dominated jobs for work of equal value;
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Effective June 1, 2008, salary increases and job reclassifications for members of male dominated jobs converted to higher levels as a result of the implementation of the new job evaluation system;
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Lump sum payments to members of male dominated jobs converted to higher levels retroactive to June 1, 2007.
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The implementation of a gender neutral job evaluation system effective June 1, 2008.
In total, 43% of PSAC members at the Old Port of Montréal will benefit from both retroactive lump sum payments and salary increases as a result of the joint committee's work.
This is clearly another important victory for members of the PSAC at the Old Port. It will go a long way towards safeguarding these members' rights in matters of pay equity and classification reform.
Date Modified : 2010/01/29
