# 2020-127 Careers, Specialist Pay, Voluntary Occupational Transfer

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-08-30

The grievor contested the date he was granted Aerospace Telecommunication and Information Systems (ATIS) technician QL5 after he completed a voluntary occupation transfer (VOT). The grievor requested that it be changed to an earlier date, which would lead to an increase in specialist (spec) pay increment. The Initial Authority rejected the grievance, given that he determined that it was submitted beyond the prescribed three-month time limit.

The Committee found that Canadian Armed Forces members who oversaw the grievor's Prior Learning Assessment and on-the-job-training package as a result of his VOT were not as diligent as they could have been. The Committee determined that this resulted in a 53-day delay in the effective date of the grievor's ATIS QL5. However, the Committee noted that this delay would not have resulted in any difference in the grievor's spec pay, given that he was still not considered qualified by the date the relevant policy changed.

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority direct a change in the effective date of the ATIS QL5 to a date earlier than originally granted.

FA decision summary

The FA, Director Canadian Forces Grievance Authority, agreed with the Committee's findings and with its recommendation to change the effective date of the grievor's qualification. The FA directed that the grievor's qualification date be back-dated, and that his pay and benefits be adjusted accordingly. The FA also noted that the on-the-job training requirement did not provide flexibility to recognize the grievor's prior relevant experience; this is not in line with Defence Administrative Order and Directive (DAOD) 5031-1, Canadian Forces Military Equivalencies Program. The FA recommended that the Commander 2 Canadian Air Division review the qualification requirements to ensure compliance with DAOD 5031-1, and to amend them as necessary.