Open Letter to the G.V.L.R.A.
October 29, 2007
Dear Sir or Madam:
Re: Pay Equity for Library Workers
Since the members of CUPE Local 410 commenced job action on September 7, 2007, we have heard through various media reports that the GVLRA's position is that "pay equity" was dealt with years ago and now the library workers want to be paid the same as City workers doing other jobs.
To set the record straight, library workers are not seeking anything new. The comparison between library wages and those of the City of Victoria was established fifteen years ago, in a pay equity agreement reached between CUPE Local 410 and the GVLRA on September 16, 1992 and signed by the current Chief Negotiator for the GVLRA, Mr. Ron Brunsdon. It clearly states that, "It is understood that positions in the Library which are equivalent to positions in the City of Victoria shall be compared for the purposes of Job Evaluation and Pay Equity."
Mr. Brunsdon conveniently ignores the reason why it was agreed that library positions should be compared to the City of Victoria positions in 1992 "for the purposes of Job Evaluation and Pay Equity." Pay equity agreements are intended to put an end to gender-based wage discrimination. In its document "Pay Equity Review" the Canadian Department of Justice clearly defines the objective of pay equity as ensuring "that women and men who are performing jobs of equal value receive equal wages even if their jobs are different."
In 1992, library jobs were held predominately by women and this continues today. Over 80% of library positions are held by women, and they make about 30% less than men in positions of equal value.
The collective agreement language established in 1992 remained in every subsequent collective agreement between the parties, including the most recently expired collective agreement dated January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006. Moreover, in letter of understanding number 10, it specifically states that it "does not alter the original objectives of the Job Evaluation and Pay Equity project".
In 2000, a wage comparison study was completed through a joint union-management job evaluation process, which established what positions at the City of Victoria were equivalent (or were equal in value) to those at the library.
Over the years the GVLRA agreed to provide funding towards achieving pay equity with the City of Victoria. In 2006, the amount was 1%; in 2005, 1%; in 2004, 20¢ per hour; in 2003, 20¢ per hour; in 1995, 1%; in 1994 1%; in 1992 1%; and in 1991, 1%. However, the amounts provided by the GVLRA have not been sufficient to meet the comparable wage rates established in 2000. There is still a wage gap between library positions and equivalent positions at the City of Victoria.
Based on the evidence, for the GVLRA to say "pay equity was dealt with years ago" is just not true.
Even though it appears the GVLRA is trying to wish away the agreement made in 1992, the evidence is clear for anyone to see that the GVLRA is refusing to honour its commitment to ending wage discrimination that it agreed to in 1992 and continued to agree to in every collective agreement between the parties since then.
It is time for the GVLRA to come back to the bargaining table and live up to its repeated commitment made over the past 15 years and negotiate an agreement that addresses the long-standing issue of pay equity for library workers.
Yours sincerely,
Ed Seedhouse
President, CUPE Local 410