While NRC has 90 days from May 14, 2007 to implement the pay and new annual leave provisions of the Arbitral Award, the remaining changes to the collective agreement will not become effective until those items are signed off. As with prior collective agreements, these items require the approval of the Treasury Board and the Governor in Council. We do not know when these will be signed off.
With respect to the new cap on carry over of annual leave, we are still waiting to commence discussions with NRC about grandfathering provisions. The RCEA has also requested a hearing before the Arbitration Board, to examine this issue. Until such time as final decisions are made, it is the view of the RCEA that AS group members should not allow themselves to be pressured to liquidate any annual leave. If anyone is being told that they must now liquidate banked annual leave in excess of 35 days, please let us know at office@rcea.ca.