Highlights of the 2025-2028 Collective Agreement
The new collective agreement applies retroactively from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028. It includes a number of improvements for AMAPCEO members at PHO, including wage increases, improvements to benefits, and more. Below are a few highlights of the new collective agreement.
Term
- A three-year term April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028
Salary
- Under the new collective agreement, AMAPCEO-represented employees at PHO will receive the following across-the-board increases:
- 2.75% on April 1, 2025 (retroactive)
- 2.25% on April 1, 2026 (retroactive)
- 2.00% on April, 1, 2027
- All retroactive salary increases will be made within 90 days of ratification.
- Annual merit provisions will continue.
Promotional increases for underfill positions
- Employees promoted from an “underfill” position will receive a 5% salary increase
- The resulting salary will not be less than the minimum or more than the maximum of the new position classification
Benefits
Major improvements to mental health coverage
- Effective the first of the month following ratification by both parties, the new agreement sees the annual maximum for mental health coverage increased from $1,400 to $3,000.
- Coverage now includes services from a qualified psychotherapist or qualified social worker.
A new Health Care Spending Account
- Under the collective agreement, the Employer is establishing a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) for each eligible regular employee enrolled in the Supplementary Health and Hospital and/or Dental plans.
- The HCSA will be funded to $200 per year, effective the first day of the month following ratification.
- The HCSA is not an insured benefit. It is over and above the current insured plans.
- HCSAs can be used for either, or both of:
- Eligible medical expenses as defined in the Income Tax Act. These include any items not covered by insured plans, such certain types of medical equipment and some paramedical providers (e.g., in-vitro fertility treatments); and/or
- Out of pocket expenses under the insured plans where the expense is eligible under the Act (e.g., if an employee spends $90 on a registered massage therapist, and is reimbursed $60 under the insured plan, the employee can choose to apply $30 from the HCSA to the expense to achieve full reimbursement.)
Your right to flexible work protected
- Protections surrounding Alternative Working Arrangements continue to apply, including:
- the right to request Alternative Work Arrangements (AWA), including remote work
- the right to have those requests considered in good faith and in light of their operational viability; and
- crucially, the right to dispute denial of those requests.
More flexible use of special and compassionate leave
- Under the collective agreement, employees will be able to use all three special and compassionate leave days for either unforeseen dependent and elder related leave or for the purpose of religious accommodation, or for a combination of both.
- Currently, employees are only able to use two of their three compassionate leave days for these purposes.
Fixed Term Employees
- A one-time opportunity for fixed term employees who have opted out of the supplementary health and benefit plan to enroll.
- A fixed term employee can request to meet with the employer six weeks before the expiry of their employment contract to review the status of the position.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
- The Parties have agreed to add AI technologies as an agenda item to every Employee Relations Committee meeting to facilitate dialogue with respect to the potential impact if any, of AI on AMAPCEO employees.