Friday, January 27, 2023
Updated February 1, 2023 to include information regarding across-the-board salary increase and retroactive payment implementation target dates.
AMAPCEO is pleased to provide members in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) an update on the implementation of several provisions under the new 2022–2025 OPS Collective Agreement.
These include:
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target dates for salary increases and retroactive payments;
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the launch of the new Health Care Spending Account;
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for fixed-term employees, the beginning of a new benefits opt-in window and changes to vacation and sick leave credits for fixed term employees;
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the expansion of psychological services; and
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changes to pregnancy and parental leave.
In the coming months, further measures from the new Collective Agreement, including changes to prescription drug coverage, will come into effect. AMAPCEO will continue to update members about these changes as we get closer to the implementation dates. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information.
Salary increase and retroactive payments
The following implementation target dates have been set for across-the-board salary increases and retroactive pay for all AMAPCEO-represented OPS employees:
March 16, 2023 – 1% salary increases effective April 1, 2022
March 30, 2023 – retroactive payment owing to all employees from April 1, 2022 to the implementation date
April 13, 2023 – 1% salary increase effective April 1, 2023
Early June, 2023 – retroactive payment owing to eligible employees who left the OPS prior to the implementation date
AMAPCEO encourages all members in the OPS to keep an eye on their payment records for the relevant dates. If you have not received your pay increase or retroactive pay by the target date, we encourage you to contact a Workplace Advisor.
New Health Care Spending Account
The Health Care Spending Account negotiated by AMAPCEO for the latest Collective Agreement is in effect. Claims, retroactive to April 1, 2022, can now be submitted online.
The Health Care Spending Account will cover eligible expenses up to:
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$100 effective April 1, 2022
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$425 effective January 1, 2023
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$525 effective January 1, 2024
This spending account can be used for eligible medical expenses as defined in the Income Tax Act, including many items not covered by insured plans, and/or out of pocket expenses under the insured plans where the expense is eligible under the Act.
Like the OPS benefits, the Health Care Spending Account is administered by Canada Life.
Claims can be submitted on the Canada Life website.
Note that claims for expenses incurred from April 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 must be received by Canada Life by May 31, 2023.
More information regarding the Health Care Spending Account and claim procedures can be found on InsideOPS.
Improvements for fixed-term employees
New fixed-term employees
All fixed-term employees now have sixty days from their contract start date to opt into the OPS benefits plan.
Earlier this month, changes to fixed-term employee vacation and sick leave credits also went into effect. As of January 1, 2023, all new fixed-term employees will be advanced 3.75 vacation credits and 3.75 attendance credits (i.e., sick leave) immediately upon hire.
This is the equivalent of three full months’ worth of vacation credits and three months of sick leave.
Existing fixed-term employees
Under the latest OPS Collective Agreement, AMAPCEO also negotiated an additional one-time opt-in window for all fixed-term employees employed on or before November 4, 2022, to opt into to the benefits plan.
The date for this window has now been set for January 30 to March 10, 2023.
All fixed-term employees who have not previously enrolled in the plan are eligible to do so during this window. Coverage will begin on April 1, 2023.
Information on the types of plans and on the process for opting in during this window can be found on InsideOPS.
If you have questions about these or any other workplace issues, contact a Workplace Representative.
Expansion of psychological services
The expansion of coverage of psychological services under the benefits plan has also now come into effect.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapists are considered eligible practitioners for psychological services under your benefits plan. This change is retroactive to April 1, 2022. If you received services from a psychotherapist on or after April 1, 2022, you can now submit a claim for that treatment.
Higher rates
Also retroactive to April 1, 2022, is an increase in coverage for psychological services to $60 per half hour, and in annual coverage from $1,400 to $1,600 per calendar year.
If you submitted a psychological service claim after April 1, 2022, your claim will be automatically reassessed based on the new psychological services rate caps. You do not need to re-submit.
Reminder of Claim Deadline
AMAPCEO reminds members that claims for all insured expenses incurred between April 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, must be received by Canada Life by December 31, 2023, and claims from each calendar year must be received by December 31 of the following year going forward.
More information can be found on InsideOPS. If you have any questions, or if your eligible claims are denied, contact a Workplace Advisor.
Changes to pregnancy and parental leave
Finally, the new OPS Collective Agreement includes several changes to pregnancy and parental leave, most of which reflect changes to the Employment Standards Act and the Employment Insurance Act.
These changes will only affect pregnancy and parental leaves beginning on or after March 17, 2023. If you are planning on taking pregnancy or parental leave, and wish to learn how this might affect you, please contact an AMAPCEO Workplace Advisor for assistance. You can also refer to the pregnancy and parental leave fact sheet.