On November 22, at the conclusion of our 8th bargaining session and with the assistance of mediators, your NEB bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the employer.
The NEB Bargaining Team unanimously endorses this agreement on behalf of the NEB Group.
If ratified by our NEB Group members, your wage rate increases will be as follows:
- Effective November 1, 2022 – increase to rates of pay: 3.5% + 1.25% wage adjustment
- Effective November 1, 2023 – increase to rates of pay: 3.0% + 0.5% pay line adjustment
- Effective November 1, 2024 – increase to rates of pay: 2.0% + 0.25% wage adjustment
- Effective November 1, 2025 – increase to rates of pay: 2.0%
The agreement also provides for a pensionable one-time lump-sum payment of $2,500 to incumbents of positions within the NEB Group on the date of signing of the collective agreement.
We were able to achieve some improvements to historical pay concerns for our members, including:
- The rolling in of the Calgary Allowance into base salary for all members. The rate of the roll in is 3.25% to account for expansion of eligible members and the benefit of making it pensionable. This removes the Calgary Allowance appendix from the Collective Agreement and the risk of losing it in bargaining.
- Effective April 1, 2024, an overhaul of the Performance Pay structure in order to reduce member concerns with the current process. All members will receive the same Individual payment amounts, and this amount will be slightly higher than existing Performing amounts.
- Market Allowance will be amended, expanding the eligibility of the allowance for those taking periods of leave. Leave of less than three months will no longer reduce the amount of the allowance. It will now be paid once annually to simplify pay administration and get it in your pocket more quickly.
Full details of the economic increases will be included in our ratification package.
Members will receive 4 weeks of annual leave upon completion of their 7th year instead of their 8th year.
We are proud to share that we held firm against employer demands to roll back work life balance provisions for members.
We also achieved numerous improvements to employee benefit and protection clauses including:
- Family related leave with pay to visit a family member who, due to an incurable terminal illness, is nearing the end of their life
- Banked time improvements to allow members to bank time and take leave on the same day
- The threshold to earn a day off with pay for travel status leave has been reduced from 40 nights to 20 nights in travel status
- Family related leave with pay for professional appointments increased from 7.5 to 15 hours
- Leave for traditional indigenous practices introduced with ability to make up the time
- Revised wording for domestic violence leave to resolve concerns with access to this leave
- Workforce Adjustment education allowance and counseling service
The NEB Bargaining Team appreciates the strong support of our stewards and members.
A full ratification package will be sent electronically to all NEB Group members prior to voting. Contract information sessions will be held for members.
More information to come on ratification and information session dates.
In solidarity,
NEB Bargaining Team, PIPSC:
Anne-Marie Erickson, Chair
Rick Cuzzetto
Luc Rainville
David Real
Philippe Marquis
Sam Sele
Cara Ryan, Negotiator