Classifications Specialist

BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU); Burnaby; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

BCGEU is seeking a Temporary Staff Representative – Classifications Specialist in Burnaby to manage classification appeals, grievances, and essential services. You will work under the Director, Negotiations, providing expert analysis of job descriptions, maintaining institutional knowledge, and representing the union in hearings at internal and external forums.

The role emphasizes strong grievance handling, classification analysis, and collaboration with staff and officers to uphold fair wage

Qualifications

• Experience handling grievances and appeals within labor relations.
• Ability to analyze job descriptions and classifications and advise on merit of cases.
• Strong knowledge of contract language, collective bargaining, and arbitration processes.

Responsibilities

• Review, investigate, and advise members on classification appeals and grievances.
• Represent the Union in hearings and provide guidance to staff and leadership.
• Develop proposals with negotiators and draft contract language related to classifications.

Skills

Grievance handling

Classification analysis

Negotiations

Arbitration preparation

Education

J.D./LL.B. degree

Job description

Temporary Staff Representative - Classifications Specialist

Negotiations

JOB ID: P0048

Location: BURNABY, BC

4126 Norland Ave, Burnaby, BC V5G 3S8

BCGEU thanks all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted. This position is only open to those legally entitled to work in Canada and are residents of the Province of BC.

THE ORGANIZATION

About Us: The BCGEU is one of the largest and most diverse unions in British Columbia with over 90,000 members in 550 bargaining units in the public and private sector. We trace our beginnings back to the early 1900s when provincial government employees formed an association to address their working conditions. Since then, our union has organized thousands of workers outside the government service. We’re continuing to grow.

The BCGEU believes that every worker is entitled to union representation and free collective bargaining without discrimination. Collective bargaining rights are human rights.

We strive to eliminate barriers to members’ involvement and inclusion in union activity. All people are entitled to enjoy human rights, political freedom, quality public services, democratic government, and a sustainable environment, in a just society. The BCGEU commits to social justice, equality, workplace safety, decent wages and working conditions. We will pursue social, economic, and political justice as those are the goals upon which the labour movement was founded.

BCGEU offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package. But a job is more than a pay cheque. We also offer our staff the opportunity to work together to make a difference. When employees go home at the end of the day, they experience the satisfaction of knowing they’ve helped provide justice and fairness for British Columbians.

Department: Negotiations

Reports to: Director, Negotiations

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Negotiations or Associate Director, Negotiations, the Staff Representative will play a pivotal role in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing job evaluation and classifications plans. Specifically, Classifications specialists manage classification appeals and grievances, act as institutional experts in classification matters, and all other matters related to classifications. This includes analyzing job descriptions and classifications, handling grievances and appeals, and representing the union at hearings internally and externally. They also maintain institutional knowledge regarding essential services and a consistent resource for staff and officers of the union. The role requires strong experience in grievance handling, classification analysis, and essential services.

Key Responsibilities:

Job Classification Appeals and Grievances

• Review, investigate, and advise members with a classification appeal or grievance.
• Represent the Union and advise members as it related to on sites.
• Provide recommendations to members as it relates to the merit of their case including recommending the file proceed to a hearing or concluding the grievance by way of a turn down and any subsequent Grievance Appeal hearings.
• Act as a union wide resource for staff and senior leadership as it relates to classification appeals and grievances.

Contract Administration

• Act as a Union wide resource for staff and senior leadership as it relates to job evaluation plans, maintenance agreements, and any other issue related to classifications.
• Action the inclusion of new certifications, and resulting classification reviews, in sectoral agreements.
• Provide training for staff and activists on when requested on sector specific and employer specific job evaluation plans, maintenance agreements, and any other issues related to classifications.

Negotiations

• Develop proposals and strategies for collective agreements in collaboration with negotiators as it relates to classifications, job evaluation plans, and maintenance agreements.
• Draft contract language, analyze proposals, and provide advice to fellow staff and officers of the union as it relates to classifications.

Strike Support & Management

• Act as a Union wide resource for staff and senior leadership as it relates to essential services.
• Provide training and coordination for essential service negotiations.
• Collaborate with elected representatives, members, and employers to resolve issues.
• Maintain clear communication on bargaining, classification, and grievance matters.
• Support union representatives and manage correspondence related to classifications.
• Represent the union and its members at arbitration hearings, the Labour Relations Board, and other adjudicative tribunals
• Use legal training and/or experience to assess legal issues, conduct merit assessments, and determine appropriate resolutions for outstanding issues.
• Prepare and present cases at formal arbitration and mediation.
• Experience in negotiating collective agreements and administering contract language.
• Proven ability to handle grievance processes and participate in arbitration.
• Knowledge of PSEC guidelines and experience working with both non-profit and for-profit agencies, as well as an understanding of public sector funding and delivery mechanisms.
• Experience in classification analysis, classification appeals, and resolving systemic wage discrimination issues.
• Familiarity with the principles of pay equity and classification systems.
• J.D. or LL.B. degree from a recognized Canadian law school considered an asset.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with other staff and elected members, maintaining strong working relationships.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a high volume of correspondence and communications.
• In-depth knowledge of contract language, collective bargaining, and the operation of collective agreements.
• Ability to analyze complex benefit plans and classification systems, including understanding wage equity and pay equity principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft and analyze contract proposals and arbitration awards.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively under tight deadlines.

At BCGEU, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe and inclusive workplace where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We invite and welcome applications from women, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, People with Disabilities and Disabled People, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and all people committed to meaningful work that makes a difference. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process.