The Profile-Based Classification System: Background

Health science professionals working under the HSPBA collective agreement moved to the profile-based classification system on December 6, 2024, as part of the first major change to the classification system for health science professionals since 1988.

Why Did We Do This?

Over 18,000 HSA members work as health science professionals in over seventy different professions. The work is complex, and it’s getting more so with each passing year. For many health science professionals, the previous classification system had not kept pace with the change in their work.

For over twenty years, previous governments refused to modernize the classification system, but during bargaining the 2022-2025 HSPBA collective agreement, HSA and the employer struck an agreement to complete the design and implementation of the new profile-based classification system.

Improvements in the new profile-based classification system recognize advanced practice work and supervisory/leadership work in the same manner for every profession, resulting in a fair and equitable system for all health science professions.

Implementation Timeline

In April 2022, Grade I/Staff level jobs started moving towards the new P1 salary structures. This was called the "P1 Phase-In" and resulted in significant wage increases for thousands of HSA members. The "P1 Phase-In" ended on April 1, 2024; this is why Grade I/Staff level jobs are paid at the previous Grade 2/Sole Charge salary structures. Affected members saw their wage increase by at least 3.8% on top of the general wage increases of the 2022-2025 HSPBA collective agreement.

In September 2023, regular full- and part-time HSPBA members got their first look at how the employer had decided to match their jobs under the new profile-based classification system. Members received their profile matches from the employer, and then used HSA’s online tool to review their match — this is what was referred to as the Classification Review and/or the classification objection process. This wasn't the final decision; members always have the right to grieve if they can show that the employer has matched their job to the wrong classification profile.

In November and December 2024, the profile-based classification system was implemented at all worksites. Though the vast majority of HSA members didn't see any change to their pay as a result of implementation, they saw their classification and salary structure change.  After implementation, each member's classification is one of seven profiles: P1, P2A, P2B, or S1 – S4.

On December 6, 2024, the union gave the employer notice and began the process of adding new special procedures and techniques to the P2A profile.  

Implementation, Wages, and Retro Pay

The new profile-based classification was implemented between November 8 and December 6, 2024. At implementation, job classifications moved from the previous system (e.g. Grade I, Sole Charge) to the profile-based system (e.g. P1, P2A, S2). The new salary structures also came into effect at implementation.

Please click here for the wage schedules for health science professionals covered by the HSPBA collective agreement. Or, for a quicker check, you can use the wage calculator.

If your job is matched to the P1 Working Professional profile, like the majority of HSA members, you didn't see much of a change at implementation as you were paid at the new P1 rate beginning in April 1, 2024.
 
If your job is matched to a different profile (P2A, P2B, or S1 – S4), the salary structure of your job likely changed at implementation. The new rates are retroactive to April 1, 2024. If your job’s new rate is higher than your previous rate, you saw that increase begin on your November 8, November 22 or December 6, 2024 pay statement (the exact date depends on your employer). 
 
Some jobs in the P2A, P2B and S1 – S4 profiles have a new wage rate that is lower than members’ previous wage rates. These members will be “green circled” which means that they will continue being paid at their current rate, and receive all future general wage increases, for as long as they remain in the same position, i.e. they do not move to the new lower pay rate of their job. Affected members should have received written notification of green circling from the employer prior to implementation. You can read more about green circling in the FAQ.