Appendix H: Leave for Meritorious Service Activation Requested
Dear PEA members,
If you are part of BC’s emergency response to the recent atmospheric river flooding events you may not receive any additional compensation for your work. For newer members this may come as a surprise, so we want to make sure you are aware of the language in the GLP collective agreement so that you make informed decisions about what additional work you take on.
Some history, beginning in 2004 a provision was added to the PEA’s collective agreement (Appendix H, Leave for Meritorious service) intended to allow for compensation of PEA members who work extraordinary hours during emergencies.
Appendix H is only in place when emergencies like floods and wildfires happen and the province, through the deputy minister responsible to the provincial emergency program, activates Appendix H. The activation is often delayed by weeks or months after PEA members have contributed extraordinary hours not knowing if they will be paid for any of the work they’ve performed. During the atmospheric river of 2021, Appendix H wasn’t activated until the PEA wrote to the Deputy Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. We have again sent a request for it to be activated in response to the atmospheric river-related emergencies declared throughout the province.
Even after the activation of Appendix H, PEA members are only compensated with straight time, though they may work long, irregular hours, work through rest days and holidays, or work away from their homes and families. We have also seen Appendix H revoked retroactively without the members knowing.
Because of how Appendix H is administered by the Public Service Agency, we recommend that members carefully review the language from the collective agreement. In 2024, the PEA was able to secure improvements to the timesheet submission process. Members may now submit timesheets at the end of each pay period for processing and have access to their meritorious service hours as they are incurred.
If you have questions about how you will be compensated, we encourage you to speak with your local rep, your union leadership or your supervisor.
In solidarity,
Dwayne Anderson
GLP Chapter Chair
