Bargaining Unit UPDATE June 3 2014

Bargaining Unit UPDATE June 3 2014

As you all know there are a number of vacancies in the department. From the unions calculation there are currently 7 full-time shift openings. I won’t disclose or discuss who or what caused the vacancies, however they are known to exist. In light of the vacancies I have ask the employer for clarification on a number of items.

1.       Given that there are 7 open lines, when would it be possible to start Rolling shift bids, to back-fill the vacancies.

2.       The union would also like clarification on if the employer intends to hire full-time officers to fill the 7 full-time vacancies?

3.       What is the current Dual/officer ratio?

The union’s position is that these full-time spots should be filled as soon as possible. This item was also discussed briefly at the past LMC meeting; we were told by the employer’s team, that any increase in staffing would have to be approved by the AGCO.  We don’t know at this time if that permission will be forthcoming any time soon.

Bonus / Wage increase

Many of you have been asking what is going on with the bonus and raise. We all know that the employer has provided non union staff with a 1500.00 bonus and the possibility of a raise to be determined after the coming provincial election. As you all know we have the option of a bonus of 750.00 or a raise equal to non unionized associates, should it be decided for them, that they receive it. In the interest of maintaining our options, I have sent the employer a memo that indicates to the employer that we will be exercising our right to postpone the decision, for 60 days after July 1^st 2014. We also reserved the right to ask for a further extension of the deadline in the event that a decision has not been made within the 60 days. This seemed the most prudent approach.

Safety Boots

To finally put this issue to rest the boot allowance is usable every calendar year. It is not contract year, or the lunar year, it is the calendar year. So if you buy boots on Dec 31^st 2014 you will be able to buy another new pair Jan 1^st 2015. The issue has been pushed through to the head of our department as well and clarification on the issue has been made. If you experience problems at the boot truck, let the union or management know and it will get sorted as soon as possible.