HSPBA: The Profile-Based Classification System

As part of the HSPBA classifications review, HSA members who thought that the employer-assigned profile match for a job was incorrect were able to file an objection through the online assessment tool.

That process closed in November, and as a result, thousands of these objections have been shared with the employer. They are now moving through the process agreed upon by the union and the employer. The outcome of each objection will be decided by the appointed classification referee.

The original deadline for the conclusion of this process was February 29, 2024. However, due to the high number of profile match objections filed, this deadline has been extended to April 12, 2024 to allow the referee adequate time to review all the objections.

The majority of members who filed profile match objections will be notified about the outcome of their objections by April 24, 2024.

You can also review the classifications review FAQ.

The new profile-based classification has not yet been implemented. When that happens early next year, job classifications will move from the previous system (e.g. Grade I, Sole Charge) to the new profile-based system (e.g. P1, P2A, S2). New salary structures will also be effective on the implementation date.

The new P1 rates are already known (as they are the same as the pre-existing Grade II/Sole Charge rates and have been phasing in since 2022), but the P2 and S1 – S4 salary structures will be finalized this year.

Once all the wages schedules are confirmed, the implementation date will be determined and announced. Per the 2022-2025 HSPBA collective agreement, the implementation date will be no later than February 28, 2025.

If your job is classified as P2 or S1 – S4 and your salary structure increases because of implementation, you will receive retroactive pay back to April 1, 2024.

When the new profile-based classification system comes into effect, there are provisions that allow for your union to advocate to recognize new special procedures and techniques by adding them to the P2A Special Procedures profile. This is an exciting opportunity to recognize and compensate the specialized work of many members who have jobs that are currently matched with the P1 profile.

Special Procedures are defined as:

"A recognized level of expertise or competency in a specialized area of practice. This qualification is obtained through specialized education, training, and experience, which is over and above the full-scope working level and is required in order to carry out duties.”

If you think that your work meets the above definition and should be recognized as a new special procedure or technique, please send us an email at redesign [at] hsabc.org letting us know your area of practice and your specialized education, training, and experience. Your union has heard from many members about their specialized areas of practice, but we are always ready to hear from more.

Staff in the classifications department are working to review submissions and build a case that shows how each proposed special procedure or technique meets the definition above. Your union intends to give notice as soon as possible after the new profile-based classification system is implemented; this will start the process to determine the special procedures and techniques that will be added to the P2A profile.

We will notify affected members, by profession, as work is added to the P2A profile. Members who perform this work will be coded up or reclassified, as appropriate, based on whether the special procedure/technique is performed for the majority of their work time.

When a new special procedure or technique is added, retroactive pay will be effective from the date that the union gave notice that the procedure or technique should be recognized as part of the P2A profile.

Members who participated in the classification review and filed profile match objections will be informed about the outcome of their objections after April 12, 2024. If you are one of these members and believe it can be shown that the referee’s decision is incorrect, you may file a grievance once the new profile-based classification system is implemented.

Additionally, once the new profile-based classification system is implemented, all members will have the right to file a classification grievance if they believe that their job has been matched to the wrong profile.