Victoria | (12 lawyers) and the Professional Employees Association (PEA)
Renewal agreement: Effective April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025. Signed on Jan. 24, 2023.
Wage adjustments:
Effective April 1, 2022: 3.24% and $0.25 per hour
Effective April 1, 2023: annualized average of B.C. CPI over 12 months starting on March 1, 2022, minimum 5.5%, maximum 6.75%
Effective April 1, 2024: annualized average of B.C. CPI over 12 months starting on March 1, 2022, minimum 2%, maximum 3%
Paid holidays: 13 days, including National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Vacations with pay: 25 days after 1 month, 28 days after 37 months, 32 days after 61 days, plus 1 additional day for every year worked after 6 additional years, maximum 35 days. Counsel may carry over maximum 10 days’ per year but all carryover will not exceed 10 days at any time.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
Dental: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
Sick leave: 6.25 hours for each month of service, maximum 10 days per year. Employee may bank, maximum 20 days at any time. Any unused sick time after 20 days as of April 1 is lost.
STD: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
LTD: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums.
Pension: Public Service Pension Plan.
Bereavement leave: 5 days for death of immediate family member (any relative with whom employee resides, employee’s parents, former guardian, wife, husband, fiancé, common-law spouse, same-sex partner, child, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, stepparents). 3 days for death of grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law.
Seniority – recall rights: 1 year after layoff.
Probationary period: 6 months.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 18 months (24 months for suspensions) for any disciplinary documentation that will be destroyed after this period. 18) months for letters of expectation that will be destroyed after this period.
Severance: 4 weeks’ current salary, for each year of service, maximum 12 months.
Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 8% increase):
Years of call
1: $74,619.37 rising 2 steps to $80,833.48
2: $79,573.43 rising 2 steps to $86,164.54
3: $84,525.68 rising 2 steps to $91,493.65
4: $91,129.87 rising 2 steps to $98,600.42
5: $97,734.06 rising 2 steps to $105,707.19
6: $105,436.68 rising 2 steps to $113,995.98
7: $110,535.50 rising 2 steps to $119,482.83
8: $115,632.47 rising 2 steps to $124,967.67
9: $118,181.90 rising 2 steps to $127,711.11
10: $120,731.28 rising 2 steps to $130,454.51
11: $122,974.37 rising 2 steps to $132,868.29
12: $123,660.91 rising 2 steps to $134,831.13
Editor’s notes: Discretionary days: Counsel can schedule 9 days per year in which counsel are not required to be in office nor are tasks to be assigned. Days are non-bankable but any unused days will be paid out by April 30 of following year. Annual professional development: $2,000 per year for legal counsel in lower mainland client office; $2,200 per year for legal counsel in Victoria client office; $2,400 per year for legal counsel in northern interior client office. Relocation expenses: Counsel who are granted lateral or recall transfer will be entitled to $1,000 transfer expense if relocation requires change of residence. $3,000 for moving personal household effects of employee and immediate family. Health wellness and justice access fund: $8,000 per year (previously $5,000 per year).
