Equal pay for reservists?
A touchy subject on both sides, the comments in the article are certainly interesting.
Reservists want equal pay
Labour minister takes heat for lack of equity with regular forcesThe federal labour minister was in Halifax on Tuesday trumpeting legislation aimed at protecting the civilian jobs of reservists while they’re conducting military training or deployed overseas.
But some people in the audience at HMCS Scotian seemed more interested in when reservists will be paid the same as their regular force counterparts.
"It’s a great first step, this initiative," said Petty Officer 1st Class Bernard Quigley, the coxswain of HMCS Shawinigan. "What about now, pay equity and equity of benefits for reserves who are standing full time, shoulder to shoulder with the reg force?
"There are many places where you will have a reservist doing exactly the same job, full time, beside the reg force member and the differences can be up to over $20,000 a year in pay and benefits."
Babbler's update: Sorry to jump into BBS' post like this, but you really need to read Northtea's comment.
posted by WE Speak at 1:34 p.m.
6 Comments:
I would consider part of the Regular Force pay as compensation for a long term commitment to the Canadian Forces. Any reservist is welcome to this compensation in return for a longer term commitment on their part, in other words, a transfer to the Regular Force.
But if they are working full-time, doing the same job and assuming the same risks....
Does the pay disparity extend to reservists serving on deployments overseas? I don't think Brett's logic could really apply in that situation.
Reserve-force soldiers attached to the regular force for pre-deployment training transfer to "class C"--in other words, same pay for the duration of pre-deployment training and deployment.
-I could be wrong, but I think the article is referring to those on class B contracts.
You need to read the whole article, folks.
Reservists generally make 15 per cent less than their regular force counterparts, said Capt. Ron Kronstein of army public affairs.
"It’s seen as a form of compensation for not being posted or told where to go every few years," Capt. Kronstein said in an e-mail.
"There are always rumours that that gap is being closed because so many reservists are working full time. But right now it’s just that, a rumour."
Any time reservists work a contract over 180 days, they get full medical and dental benefits, he said.
When reservists volunteer, train and go to Afghanistan, they are paid the same as regular force soldiers, Capt. Kronstein said. "No difference in pay, benefits or anything else."
I think that deals with all the comments so far.
That is to say, if you can't get posted to a different base every few years, and can't be sent overseas without volunteering for the mission, it's not actually the same job as Reg Force.
Those who choose an overseas deployment get the same pay & benefits as reg force.
Any reservists who have taken Class B or C contracts, feel free to weigh in on your own experiences with the details - since I'm sure while DND likes to say it's all equal, and it probably largely is, in practice things are frequently different than the theory.
The real question folks is:
"Would you take a 15% cut in pay to be your own career manager?"
Kronstein is right, the 15% difference is based largely on not being deployable unless you volunteer. Everything OK on the homefront? No ill family members? Wife not pregnant? Nice convenient time to take a mission or career course? Your deployment, your decision.
Class B reservists are offered employment contracts which spell out in detail the benefits, the rate of pay and the duration of work. If you don't like the contract, don't sign! Kind of like when you are negotiating your mortgage or a new car purchase.
I might draw a lot of fire for the tone of this comment, but before you hammer those keys know this: I have signed about 4 class B contracts, one class C contract and one engagement with the Reg Force. I have slid the contracts across the table to numerous other reservists and have asked them to sign. I have a dislike for those who happily sign and then bitch about it later like they were fooled.
I hope that PO took it up with his C of C before he engaged a Federal Minister in front of the media, which is generally not a good way to air a grievance.
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