HSP Professional Fee Funding Update

Dear PEA members,

We’ve had some questions regarding why the PEA is only reimbursing 30% of the required fees, while colleagues in other unions may be receiving up to 100%.

In the HSP collective agreement, Appendix 28.1 allows for the partial reimbursement of fees for membership in professional bodies. Funding was allocated based on membership numbers in the bargaining association. Per member funding for all members of the bargaining association was approximately $138/member in 2023 and $21/member in 2024. PEA’s share of the negotiated funding was $42,346 in 2023 and $6,475 in 2024.

In addition to the funding in the collective agreement, there was an additional one-time funding amount provided by the BC Government in the amount of $11,000,000. This ex-gratia funding was allocated on the same basis as the negotiated funding and amounted to approximately $486/member. PEA’s share of the ex-gratia fund was $150,260.

Of the funding received in 2023 (a total of $192,606), PEA took 0% of the allowable 10% to cover administrative costs and reimbursed members $147,684 for professional fees. For 2024, the remaining $44,922 and the 2024 funding allocation of $6,475 leave an available fund balance of $51,397. The calculation of 30% reimbursement considers certain professional fee increases and changes in PEA membership mix. If there are funds remaining, it will go back to members in a future program. At this point, our estimate is that all funding will be exhausted.

While PEA received the exact same amount per member as all constituent unions, our total number of reimbursements and our mix of different professions with relatively higher professional dues is different from other unions. This has, unfortunately, resulted in less funding available for the ex-gratia allocation in 2024.

As your union, we share in the disappointment of the reimbursement amount being less than other constituent unions. We will continue to make full reimbursement of professional fees for all members a priority in future rounds of bargaining.

Scott McCannell
Executive Director