Delayed Pay Review of the Army Communications Information Systems Specialist (ACISS) occupation
Topic
Delayed Pay Review of the Army Communications Information Systems Specialist (ACISS) occupation
Case number
- 2018-118 (F&R date: 2019-03-27)
Issue
The ACISS occupation had been created in 2011 by the amalgamation of three occupations, one of which had been a specialist occupation. The determination of which pay group to assign the ACISS occupation to was to be made following a pay study of the new occupation.
Due to delays in completing the pay study, as an interim measure, members of the new occupation who had previously been receiving specialist (spec pay), continued to receive it. In addition, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) had issued orders authorizing new members of the occupation to receive spec pay under certain conditions. There was a great deal of confusion caused by the CDS Orders and revised orders were issued. The result of the confusion was that many members were overpaid and recovery action was necessary and this led to numerous grievances.
In a 2016 grievance, the Committee made a systemic recommendation that the CDS direct that the pay review, which was to have started in 2011, be completed in an expeditious manner to clarify the status of the ACISS occupation. In the reviewing the current grievance in 2019, the Committee discovered that the pay review had still not been completed.
Recommendation
In light of the magnitude and impact the delay in completing the ACISS pay review has had on affected ACISS members, and considering the morale issue it is causing within the ACISS trade, the Committee again recommended that the CDS direct the pay review be completed in an expedient manner.
Final Authority Decision
In response to the Committee's systemic recommendation, the CDS partially agreed with the Committee. He agreed to direct the Chief Military Personnel to oversee the completion of the ACISS pay review in an expedient manner but stated that the implementation date should be determined by the pay review instead of being the 1 October 2011 as suggested by the Committee. The CDS stated that the non-commissioned member ACISS trade Military Employment Structure Implementation Plan has gone through various revisions and consultations with stakeholders during the last two years, including a survey with the training establishment and units to ensure to assure that the dates of qualification are correct. The CDS stated that he was satisfied that proper staffing measures are ongoing and directed the Chief Military Personnel to ensure completion of the ACISS pay review is implemented with clarity.
Outcome
The Canadian Armed Forces review on the issue of the ACISS specialist pay is still ongoing.