That’s an interesting question and I will be really curious to see how members answer it. I can help you with the legal perspective. Serving as a joint health and safety committee member or health and safety rep is generally considered a voluntary position that doesn’t entitle the worker to additional compensation. Of course, you CAN offer such compensation if you choose, or if the collective agreement or employment contract provides. Legally, you’re also on the hook for certain related expenses. But Alberta is pretty limited in that regard, at least compared to other provinces. The only stated obligation under the OHS Act is to treat time spent on performing H&S duties, e.g., attending meetings, receiving H&S training, attending inspections, etc., as work time paid at the employee’s normal rate. Here’s the actual provision:
Time away for committee or representative work and entitlement to pay
199.3 A worker who is a member of a joint health and safety committee or who is a health and safety representative is deemed to be at work during the times the worker is performing joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative duties, or attending training in connection with these duties.
