Pay Equity Review On Schedule – Member Focus Groups About To Start

On April 26^th, we will be holding our first pilot Focus Group for the Pay Equity Study. This pilot will be in English for RSMCs in the Ottawa area. Our second pilot will be in French on May 5^th in Gatineau for Letter Carriers. The pilots will give the consultants a chance to test out the Questionnaire and the Job Profiles. 

In mid-May the Focus Groups will be scheduled across the regions. We will hold 16 Focus Groups for RSMCs and 16 for Letter Carriers. There will be 3 Focus Groups for Permanent Relief and 3 for Relief Letter Carriers. We will be holding a smaller number of Focus Groups for the other male comparators (Letter Carrier Assistants, Mail Service Couriers, Mail Service Courier, Heavy Vehicles and Mail Despatchers).

The Consultants will conduct the Focus Groups with CUPW and CPC committee members in attendance as observers. The Consultants will randomly select 8 to 10 members to participate in each group. The Consultants will ensure that we have a proper sampling of routes and offices. Neither CUPW nor CPC will have input as to who is invited to participate.

Members, once they agree to participate, will be provided with their Job Profile and with a list of questions that will be asked during the Focus Group. The session should last approximately 3 hours.

The parties are in the process of setting up the locations and the dates for the Focus Groups. Once this has been finalized, invitations to the Focus Groups will be sent out. Members should check the mail for the invitation. If you are invited we encourage you to participate.

The Focus Groups should be completed by the end of June. At that time the Consultants will evaluate whether the work of a RSMC is of equal value to that of the male comparator. If the work is found to be of equal value, the consultants will need to determine if the RSMC Total Compensation is equal to that of the male comparator. If it is found not to be of equal value, the law states that the employer must bring the RSMCs to the level of the male comparator and, according to the Memorandum of Understanding, any compensation will retroactive to January 1,2016.

Again, if you are invited to participate in a Focus Group, we encourage you to say yes.