FPSLREB Decisions

Standby pay - Electronics Group - the grievor had been assigned standby duties for a period of three days (Monday to Wednesday) for the purposes of emergency support during the Y2K readiness period - no standby duties were assigned to any employees for the following Thursday and Friday - the grievor was paid three days' standby pay - the grievor alleged that he was entitled to five days' standby pay, as the collective agreement states that "[t]he Employer agrees that standby for the afternoon and/or night shifts shall be on a five (5) day basis, Monday to Friday inclusive" - the grievor argued that an employee assigned standby duties is entitled to five days' standby pay, regardless of the actual number of days for which that employee was on standby - the employer responded that the collective agreement did not provide for a minimum of five days' standby pay - it added that the grievor was not entitled to standby pay for days on which he was not assigned standby duties - the adjudicator found that, in its context, the clause of the collective agreement on which the grievor based his grievance did not entitle him to five days' standby pay. Grievance denied. Cases cited:MacAdams (166-2-26601); Mullins (166-2-17752); Re Cardinal Transportation B.C. Inc. and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 561 (1997), 62 L.A.C. (4th) 230; Noranda Mines Ltd. v. United Steelworkers of America, Local 898 (unreported, May 19, 1981, Hope); University of British Columbia v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 116 (1997), 1 CLRB 13.