HEU members who work for Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) were eligible to receive up to two years of back pay of shift premiums, after the union successfully concluded a grievance settlement regarding how shift premiums were paid on overtime shifts.
This means, for example, when a member worked a straight time shift from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by an overtime shift from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., the employer's interpretation was that a member was not entitled to the shift premium on the latter shift.
HEU’s position was that the second shift was separate from the first one and premiums were owing. In the end, at a mediation in mid-April, HEU and PHSA came to a settlement with the assistance of Arbitrator Matacheskie and PHSA agreed to pay the back pay owing.
PHSA members impacted by this settlement were notified and are in the process of receiving their back pay. Applications that were submitted on time will be paid on or before August 31, 2024. Shift premium claims for PHSA members were due on June 14, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. Late submissions are not accepted.
In addition to the settlement, PHSA members who were inadvertently overpaid will not experience any claw back of those payments by their employer.
Moreover, while PHSA’s compensation payment roll out has commenced, other health authorities are now updating their policies. Already, HEU representatives are in discussions with the other health authorities to discuss settling open grievances on the shift premium issue as part of moving to the same system that is now in effect in PHSA.
This means Facilities members who work for other health authorities can expect an update in the coming months on revised shift premium improvements that will provide compensation for any impacted HEU members.
For any questions regarding the PHSA compensation process, please contact your staff representative.