Salary and step adjustments

The ability to collectively negotiate the terms and conditions of your employment, including your compensation, is an important advantage of being a unionized professional.

When employees negotiate together, they achieve better results and in turn, promote fairness and consistency at work. Collective bargaining of compensation also reduces the wage gap for women and for racialized and young workers.

Your Collective Agreement defines the parameters of your salary, merit, and pay for performance in Articles 44, 45, & 50.

Your salary

Your salary is based on your position’s classification. Each classification has a minimum and maximum. You can see the ranges for each in the Salary Schedule of your Collective Agreement.

The union may be able to negotiate increases to your individual salary as a part of collective bargaining with the Employer—this is called an across-the-board increase.

We may also be able to negotiate increases to salary range minimums and maximums as part of the contract.

Your current Collective Agreement

Your 2018–2022 Collective Agreement between AMAPCEO and the Ontario Child Advocate (now the Ombudsman - Children & Youth Unit) sets across-the-board increases to both individual salaries and to all salary ranges of:

• 1.5% on March 31, 2018 (retroactive to October 1, 2017);
• 1% on April 1, 2019;
• 1% on October 1, 2019;
• 1% on April 1, 2020;
• 1% on October 1, 2020;
• 1% on April 1, 2021; and
• 1% on October 1, 2021.

See Article 44 (page 82) and the Salary Schedule of your Collective Agreement for details.

Step adjustment increases

In addition to any across-the-board increases negotiated with the Employer, you may also be eligible for step adjustment increases to your current salary each year.

Step adjustment increases are 3% of your salary and are pensionable earnings. They are not tied to your annual performance review.

Eligibility

You are eligible for a step adjustment if your current salary is within the range for your position’s classification.

If you are at the maximum of your salary range, you are not eligible for step adjustment increases. However, when you reach five years of service, you will receive an additional two days’ vacation each year, and again when you reach ten years of service.

Receiving a step adjustment increase

Your step adjustment increase will become effective on your anniversary date.

If your step adjustment increase causes your salary to exceed the maximum for your position’s classification:

• your new salary will be set to the maximum; and
• the excess amount will be paid out to you as a one-time lump-sum bonus.

Any one-time lump sum you receive will not increase your base salary beyond the maximum salary range.

If you have questions or need assistance

Please contact an AMAPCEO Workplace Representative at the Ombudsman - Children & Youth Unit, and get in touch by email.

Workplace Representatives are trained union members who have volunteered to confidentially assist members like you in the workplace. They should be your first point of contact in seeking information and representation with an issue at work.