Teacher aide pay equity operational guidelines for schools

There are two different translation rules based on start date. 

After the CA settlement in November 2019, teacher aides were offered the 2019 pay rate of $21.15 per hour, or a 3% increase if they were earning more than this.

This had the effect of collapsing the existing CA pay scale, particularly in grade A and B.

The new pay equity pay scale opens up this collapsed CA scale and acknowledges the varying levels of experience within the teacher aide grades.

For this reason, for those employed before 29 November 2019, the step they were on before the 2019 CA settlement is used in the translation.

For teacher aides who started in their role on or after 29 November 2019, the pay rate will translate to the corresponding pay equity rate for the step they are employed on.

Teacher aides employed in their role before 29 November 2019 will be translated using the table below (using the step they were on in 29 November 2019).

To work out the point to point translation, Education Payroll will look at the teacher aide's current grade and step, and convert them to the equivalent grade and step on the new pay equity pay scale.
In some instances, two or more steps may merge into a new step on the pay equity scale, including:

• CA grade A, step 1 and 2 translates to pay equity grade A, step 1
• CA grade B, step 8 and 9 translate to pay equity grade B-C, step 5 (unless they have been on grade B, step 9 who have been on that step for two years or more, as outlined below)
• CA grade C, step 13 and 14 translate to pay equity grade B-C, step 10
• Teacher aides paid within grade D range of rates will translate to the step closest to their current pay rate on the pay equity pay scale grade D steps 2 to 6, provided the rate is equal to, or higher than their current rate.

The exception to the point to point translation is teacher aides on grade B, step 9 who have been on that step for two years or more. These teacher aides will translate to pay equity grade B-C, step 6, unless you advise the teacher aide (before 14 August) that their role remains solely within grade B of the work matrix.  In this case, they translate to pay equity grade B-C, step 5. Include this information in the teacher aide spreadsheet you send to Education Payroll by August 20. It is best practice for you as the employer, to keep a copy of this advice in the employee's personnel file.

Point to point translation examples:

CA grade A, step 3 translates to grade A, step 2

CA grade C, step 11 translates to grade B-C, step 8

CA grade C, step 13 and step 14 translate to grade B-C, step 10

Case Study
Sela | Grade B, step 9 > Grade B – C, step 6
Sela is on grade B, step 9 and has been on the step for four years. Her school considers that her work means that she should progress to grade C. Her school does not need to notify Sela or Education Payroll, and she will translate automatically to grade B-C, step 6.

Case Study
Reshma | grade B, step 9 > Grade B-C, step 5
Reshma is on grade B, step 9 and has been on this step for three years. Her school looks at the work she is doing and decides it remains solely within the skills, demands and responsibilities set out in grade B of the work matrix. Before 14 August, the school talks to Reshma about the fact her work remains in grade B and notifies Education Payroll by 20 August 2020. Reshma translates to grade B-C, step 5.

Teacher aides who started on or after 29 November will be translated using the following pay scale.

Point to point translation examples:

Grade A, step 1 translates to grade A, step 1

Grade B, step 1 translates to grade B-C, step 1

Grade B, step 2 translates to grade B-C, step 5

Grade C, step 5 translates to grade B-C, step 9

Grade D, step 7 translates to grade D, step 1

Grade D range of rates will translate to the closest step in grade D steps 2 to 6, provided the rate is equal or higher than their current rate