24 (1) The rate of compensation of an employee is, for the period beginning June 14, 1993 and ending with March 31, 1996, fixed at the rate that was in effect immediately before June 14, 1993. Same (2) For greater certainty, “compensation” in this section includes, (a)  merit increases; (b)  cost-of-living increases or other similar movement of or through ranges; and (c)  increases resulting from any movements on any pay scale or other grid system. Promotions (3) Nothing in this section prevents increases in compensation as a result of a promotion or acting promotion of an employee to a different position. Existing collective agreements (4) An increase in compensation after June 14, 1993 under a collective agreement existing on that date is void. Election re: certain increases (5) Despite subsection (4), a bargaining agent, by written notice to the employer, may elect to preserve increases in compensation provided for in a collective agreement existing on June 14, 1993, other than compensation described in clause (2) (a), (b) or (c). Notice (6) The notice of the election must be delivered to the employer not later than when the bargaining agent gives notice to the employer to bargain a renewal or new collective agreement which may extend beyond March 31, 1996. Deferral (7) If an election is made under subsection (5), (a)  any increase in compensation shall be deferred until the third anniversary following the day on which it would have occurred under the collective agreement; and (b)  no increase in compensation, other than those preserved by the election, shall be given before the third anniversary following the day the collective agreement expires, or, if the collective agreement has been extended under section 35, before the third anniversary of the day it would have expired had it not been extended. Post-1995 merit increases, etc. (8) An employee is not entitled to any increases in compensation after March 31, 1996 by way of, (a)  merit increases; (b)  cost-of-living increases or other similar movement of or through ranges; or (c)  increases resulting from any movements on any pay scale or other grid system, except as prescribed by regulation, in respect of employment during the period beginning June 14, 1993 and ending March 31, 1996. Expired collective agreement (9) If a collective agreement has expired before June 14, 1993 and on that date the employees that were formerly bound by it are without a collective agreement, the compensation of these employees is fixed at the amount they were receiving under the last collective agreement in force before June 14, 1993. First collective agreements (10) Despite subsection (1), if employees are represented by a bargaining agent that, (a)  was certified or recognized as the employees’ bargaining agent before June 14, 1993; or (b)  applied for certification as the employees’ bargaining agent before June 14, 1993, and a first collective agreement comes into force on or after June 14, 1993, the rate of compensation of an employee to whom the first collective agreement applies is, for the period beginning on the day the first collective agreement comes into force and ending with March 31, 1996, fixed at the rate first payable under the first collective agreement. New employees (11) The compensation of an employee who starts employment after June 14, 1993 is fixed at the starting amount until March 31, 1996 and the employee is bound by the program established under section 27 if the program is applicable to that employee. 1993, c. 5, s. 24.