http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1044466.html
The 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."
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said that inequity won’t be covered by the new law.
"I’m sorry, I don’t have an answer for you right now," Mr. Blackburn said.
About 200 people in army and navy uniforms attended the minister’s speech.
"That’s why I think a lot of people were here today, because when they talked about labour, we were hoping it was more about pay equality between the reg force and the reserve," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Sonya Elson, a reservist cook who works full time in an administrative job with the navy.
"And yes, we do have a significant amount of difference. We do the same job as a reg force member . . . but yet we get paid less."
She earns about $46,000 a year for a job that pays her regular force counterparts $52,000 annually.
"It’s quite a big difference," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Elson, who has been working full time for the military for the past 10 years. She can’t join the regular force because her eyesight has degraded since joining the navy.
"Although the military allows me to do a reg force position, they won’t let me go reg force because of my eyesight," Petty Officer 2nd Class Elson said.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Byrne also questioned why reservists who are doing the same job as a regular force member aren’t paid the same.
"It’s not fair. But that’s the card you get dealt, I guess, being a reservist."
After a decade in the reserves, he’s now looking into joining the regular force because of the pay difference.
"The reserves has its benefits, but it also has its drawbacks," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Byrne, a navy cook who orders food rations for coastal defence vessels and submarines.
He doubts the government will ever pay reservists the same as regular force members for jobs here in Halifax.
"It’s all about money. It’s cheaper to employ a reservist in a position where a regular force would do it because there’s less money to hand out."
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."
The Conservative government said the new legislation will protect the jobs of reservists who work in the federal civil service or in federally regulated industries. The proposed amendments to a handful of laws will also apply to reservists enrolled full time at post-secondary institutions by allowing them to keep their student status active in the Canada Student Loan program.
"When you come home from a mission, you return to your companies and to your work as civilians, it is important that Canada does everything it can to ensure that you never have to worry about being penalized for serving your country," Mr. Blackburn said.
The guarantee of unpaid leave for reservists is "a step in the right direction," said Lt.-Col. Robert Knapp, commanding officer of the Princess Louise Fusiliers, a reserve infantry regiment in Halifax.
Lt.-Col. Knapp was initially worried the new law would make employers reluctant to hire reservists.
"That was a concern of mine, coming here this morning, whether there was going to be any thumbscrews put to employers that may have that effect. That’s what we worry about a great deal as reservists, having difficulty finding jobs in the first place."
As an insurance broker with seven employees, he was also worried about "having onerous legislation imposed upon us that makes us extend benefits to employees that we really are uncomfortable with."
Nothing the minister said Tuesday falls into that category, Lt.-Col. Knapp said.
"Holding someone’s job, it’s no more onerous than a maternity leave," he said.
Six provinces, including Nova Scotia, have already passed legislation protecting reservists’ jobs.
