Big wage and reclassification gains for N.S. sheriffs

Approximate raises of $9,000 and $6,500 won by NSGEU.

Halifax (24 July 2009) - The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) has negotiated a significant wage settlement and substantially altered classification provisions for deputy II and III sheriffs.

"The union successfully argued that this classification had significantly evolved since the inception of the position and therefore a new salary must be negotiated for this substantially altered position," NSGEU says in an update issued to its members. "The Employer had taken the opposing position."

The union says pay scales for the deputy sheriff II classification will be increased from TE 16 to TE 21, resulting in an approximate increase of over $9,000 in salary, while the deputy sheriff III classification will be increased from TE 20 to TE 23, resulting in an approximate increase of almost $6,500 in salary.

"The retroactive pay is calculated as per the collective agreement based on one increment per year that moves up annually. This increase in wages will be retroactive to November 28, 2004."

NSGEU says all those who worked as a deputy sheriff II or deputy sheriff III in a bargaining unit position for anytime after November 28, 2004 will be eligible for time they were in the bargaining unit.

"In other words this will include those who came on board after the grievance was filed. Typically, processing retroactive pays takes the employer a few pay periods."

NSGEU said the increases were the result of hard work over many years by dedicated activists and representatives within the union.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE