FAQ’s
- Are the adjustments a bonus or part of the wage rate?
- Is there a compounding of the adjustments in the coming years?
- What happens if more trades persons are hired?
- I am not a trades person but supervise trades. At the end of the adjustments the employees I supervise will be paid more than I will. Can I get the adjustments or some other sort of adjustment?
1. Are the adjustments a bonus or part of the wage rate?
The adjustments are part of the wage rate and should also be included on any overtime. They will not be reduced or removed in 2010. Unlike other collective agreement settlements these were not a premium/bonus that would come off.
2. Is there a compounding of the adjustments in the coming years?
Yes. The following shows the effect on a trades rate of $25 per hour (June 30, 2006 rate).
| Start Rate |
Jul 1/06 2% |
Jul 1/06 .60 adj. |
Jul 1/07 2% |
Jul 1/07 .60 adj. |
Jul 1/08 2% |
Jul 1/08 .60 adj. |
Jul 1/09 2% |
Jul 1/09 .30 adj. |
| 25.00 | 25.50 | 26.10 | 26.62 | 27.22 | 27.77 | 28.37 | 28.93 | 29.23 |
3. What happens if more trades persons are hired?
The employer will have to pay the wage rates that are applicable including the adjustments.
4. I am not a trades person but supervise trades. At the end of the adjustments the employees I supervise will be paid more than I will. Can I get the adjustments or some other sort of adjustment?
No. Unless there are changes in the job that leads to a job review, which determines that a wage increase is appropriate, you cannot use the trades/sponsor adjustment as a reason for increasing your wages. The SSEAC is aware of several issues associated with the trades adjustment including pay equity, inversion (supervisors’ rates being passed by the rate of the person they supervise), and jobs where there have traditionally been rates equal or similar to trades rates which will be disrupted. We are going to be discussing this in the future.
