20th BCGEU Main Agreement FAQs

The BC Public Service Agency (PSA) is working to put in place the changes outlined in the 20th Main Agreement. This includes pay increases, retroactive pay, and leave adjustments.

There are answers to common questions below to support employees through this process. This information is intended to provide an overview of the changes. We will share more information as it becomes available. You can also use the How to read your pay stub page to understand entries on your pay advice.

While work progresses, we kindly ask you to refrain from contacting AskMyHR with individual collective agreement questions. 

General Wage Increase April 6, 2025

*UPDATED*  1. I received the general wage increase on my pay cheque but I didn’t receive any retroactive pay. When will I receive retroactive pay?

Payroll is working on processing the retroactive pay for 2026. Employees will begin to see retroactive payments on the January 16, 2026 pay.

2. I am on maternity and/or parental leave. Will I receive the increase, and will my top-up be increased?

Yes, you will receive the salary increase. Payroll is currently working on exception updates which require manual review and entry. Top-up will be recalculated, and any retroactive pay owing will be paid to you.

3. I am on WCB Leave. Will I receive the increase?

Yes, you will receive the salary increase. Payroll will work with WorkSafeBC on these exception updates which require manual review and entry.  

*NEW*  4. I am on lay off or became inactive in 2025/2026 and have not received my retroactive pay.  When will I receive my retroactive pay?

A manual review and entry by Payroll is required to process retroactive pay.  Payroll is currently processing retroactive pay, communications will be updated to advise when all retroactive pay should have been received.

5. Why did my salary protection not increase, or appear to be reduced?

Employees receiving salary protection do not receive negotiated salary increases to their protected salary. Their base salary increases, based on the general wage increase, and their salary protection decreases an equal amount which results in the employee receiving the same rate.

For more information, please refer to Salary Protection.

6. Why was my classification adjustment not increased when I received my general wage increase?

Classification adjustments are not included in base pay and are not recalculated when general wage increases are implemented.

7. How can I ensure the general wage increase was included in any substitution pay I received after April 6, 2025?

A new substitution pay form needs to be submitted by your supervisor for Payroll to update your substitution pay with the general wage increase. Ensure there is a note included on the new substitution pay form stating, “This is a correction to a previously entered substitution pay request.” This applies to substitution pay paid through both Time and Leave as well as manual forms. For more information, please refer to Substitution Pay.

8. What if I believe my taxes are too high?

As with all large payroll applications, PeopleSoft comes pre-loaded with all taxation methods and formulas approved by the Canada Revenue Agency. These formulas cover federal income tax, provincial income tax, contribution calculations to the Canada Pension Plan and premium calculations for the Employment Insurance program. Neither the Province of British Columbia nor TELUS Employer Solutions alters these formulas in any way. 

9. Why did my co-worker receive X amount, but I received a different amount?

There are many variables when calculating an employee’s pay and no two employees are alike. If you believe there is an error, submit an AskMyHR request and provide specific details regarding what you believe the issue is. Once received we can review your request further.

10. Why have I not had a response on my pay inquiry?

We ask for your patience and ask you refrain from contacting AskMyHR for updates. A response will be provided as soon as possible.

*NEW*  11. I have received my retroactive pay for my base salary but have not received it for my Market Adjustment (previously called Temporary Market Adjustment). When will I receive retroactive pay for my Market Adjustment?

Employees with Market Adjustments saw pay for the Market Adjustment salary increase on their January 16 pay advice, however, retroactive pay for the Market Adjustments has not yet been calculated/paid for all employees and will be paid on a future pay. 

*NEW*  12. Why am I only seeing some of my retro pay this pay period?

If an employee is a concurrent hire in different ministries, or if the employee transferred between ministries during the period of the retro pay, the retro pay may be processed over multiple pay periods. If retro pay for those ministries were not processed in the same pay period, the retro pay may be split over multiple pay periods.

*NEW*  13. How do I request interest on my retro pay?

Interest is not issued on retro pay. 

*NEW*  14. Is my retroactive pay for the general wage increase pensionable?

Yes, the retroactive pay for the general wage increase is pensionable.

*NEW*  15. Will my retroactive pay be allocated to the correct fiscal year, so it shows as part of my pensionable salary for that fiscal?

Yes, the retroactive pay will be reported to Pension Corporation for the fiscal year 2025/2026.

General Information

16. What is changing for BCGEU members with the new agreement?

All changes can be seen in the 20th BCGEU Main Agreement Memorandum of Settlement (PDF, 1.52MB).

In general, you will see:

• Increases to pay and allowances
• Changes to leave types or usage guidelines
• Process changes and modernized language updates

Other changes of interest to many employees are discussed in some of the questions below. For a full listing of changes, please refer to the 20th BCGEU Main Agreement Memorandum of Settlement (PDF, 1.52MB).

17. When will the general wage increases be effective?

The general wage increases are effective the first day of the pay period following April 1 of each year:

• April 6, 2025: 3 percent
• April 5, 2026: 3 percent
• April 4, 2027: 3 percent
• April 2, 2028: 3 percent

18. When will the new market adjustments in MOU 22 be effective?

MOU 22 outlines many new market adjustments and their corresponding effective dates. A full listing can be found in the 20th BCGEU Main Agreement Memorandum of Settlement (PDF, 1.52MB).

19. Which classifications are receiving grid pay adjustments and when?

• Positions classified as R6 will be paid at grid range 7 effective the first day of the pay period following June 1, 2025
• Positions classified as R9 will be paid at grid range 10 effective the first day of the pay period following March 1, 2026, and paid at grid range 11 effective the first day of the pay period following June 1, 2027
• Positions classified as R12 will be paid at grid range 13 effective the first day of the pay period following April 1, 2027

Changes to Retail Stores and Warehouse classifications

Effective April 1, 2025:

• Warehouse worker and store clerk G3 will be paid at an Appendix 3, R9 wage scale
• Warehouse worker G4 will be paid at an Appendix 3, R11 wage scale

Effective April 1, 2026:

• Warehouse worker and store clerk G3 will be paid at Appendix 3, R10 wage scale
• Warehouse worker R9 will be paid at an Appendix 3, R10 wage scale

Effective February 1, 2027:

• Warehouse worker G4 will be paid at an Appendix 3, R12 wage scale

20. Do these grid pay adjustments impact seniority?

No, these grid adjustments do not impact seniority.

21. I am a Schedule A employee. Do I receive the general wage increase?

As per the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Schedule A (excluded positions with bargaining unit classifications), increases for employees in Schedule A positions with BCGEU classifications will follow the general wage increase provisions for BCGEU employees.

22. I am an excluded employee. Will I receive an in-range salary increase at the same time as BCGEU employees receive a general wage increase?

Determinations for in-range salary increases for excluded employees are not part of the implementation process for the 20th BCGEU Main Agreement. This will be determined separately, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

23. What year are the Qualified Registered Professional Fees capped at for the term of the 20th Main Agreement?

Re-imbursement of professional fees will be based on the fee schedule from the year prior to ratification (2024), but the reimbursable rate will be increased by 4 percent each year of the agreement.

24. What are the changes to the extended health care plan?

Effective January 1, 2026, the annual combined maximum for counselling services under the extended health plan has been increased from $750 per person to $1,000 per person. The listing of professionals accepted to provide counselling services has been substantially expanded.

Gender Affirmation Coverage is effective January 1, 2026, with a lifetime maximum of $15,000 per person.

Effective January 1, 2026, vision care has been increased from $250 to $400 every 24 months for adults, and from $250 to $300 every 12 months for dependent children.

Additional coverage has also been expanded to diabetic supplies, food substitutes/tube feeding and speech aids

25. How does the Memorandum of Settlement for the 20th Main agreement impact members of other unions within the BC Public Service?

The changes to the 20th Main Agreement are specific to BCGEU members. Information specific to other bargaining units will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone who supervises a BCGEU member is expected to understand the agreement enough to support their employees and contact the BC Public Service Agency (PSA) when additional clarification and support is required. More information for supervisors will be provided as it becomes available.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Please bookmark this page to refer to as it will be updated as progress is made on implementation.

As the PSA works through the implementation of the collective agreement, we kindly ask you to refrain from contacting AskMyHR with individual collective agreement questions. The most up-to-date information will be available in the FAQs as things progress.