Labour/Management Relations #4

CUPE 1063 hopes everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend. I realize that we had sent a communication not long ago but we feel that we should try to keep the members updated as much as possible in regards to labour issues that we feel are important.

First, we would like to congratulate the provincial NDP party for being elected into power. It is well documented that the former PC government was not labour friendly and this was reflected in our collective bargaining process. We are just one year away from CUPE 1063 starting our bargaining process with our member bargaining survey and the creation of our bargaining committee.

Now, onto labour issues.

It has not been a coincidence that most of our communication has had a negative tone in regards to internal changes at the WCB. We believe that the changes we have identified are all directly tied to the current Digital Modernization Project.

Since the employer’s last update, we have heard from members asking what this means to them and their job. We will attempt to keep you updated on activity behind the scenes:

1. In our last update, we spoke about the issues in our Information Technology department. There continues to be roughly 24 empty positions. The employer also has roughly 28 contracted out positions within the I.T. department. We have asked for additional information from the employer on the work being completed by the 28 outside employees however received little information to support that these 28 contracted out employees are not doing work of the bargaining unit. Based on this, the union has submitted a grievance that the employer is in non-compliance with the collective agreement.
2. Review Officers have recently had their job description changed. They have now included a law degree under qualifications. As you know, the Review Officer position has been a career path for members from the Compensation department. We believe that this change will greatly limit or eliminate that career path for members. This concern has been communicated to H/R.
3. Safe Work continues to have a large percentage of empty desks and we have heard concerns about the direction that that department is heading and the type of work they will complete. This concern has been heightened recently with job description changes to multiple positions. Your union has requested a meeting with senior management from Safe Work to get a better idea of the direction the department is heading and to share the concerns of the members in that area. 
4. The union recently received a Technological Change (Change in method of operation) request as per Article 22 of the Collective Agreement. This change identified the removal of two in-scope supervisory positions and the creation of an out of scope manager position.

And finally the Digital Modernization Project.

We have heard numerous concerns from you, the members, on the project and if the union can stop it.

Our authority comes from the Collective Agreement. We do not have the ability to stop the employer from changing their operational requirements at the WCB. Through the collective agreement, CUPE 1063 can ensure that members are treated fairly and we will continue to advocate for our members.

We have spoken before on how the employer did try to change the Contracting Out and Technological Change provisions within the Collective Agreement to more employer friendly options. You, the members, stopped that in our last round of bargaining. We believe the employer has now started to implement changes within those areas and we anticipate more to come.

The employer has indicated the creation of a Change Management Department and we understand that a survey will be sent shortly to gauge your ability to handle change.

Many of us have been through WCB reorganizations and departmental change before. It seems to have occurred quite frequently but this time is a little different as it now implies the use of digital tools and technology that may complete portions of your job.

As indicated by management, if you have any questions or concerns with this project you should be emailing your questions to [email protected].

As your union has not been asked to participate in this Digital Modernization Project, all the information we receive is from our members or communication we have from H/R on changes as noted above.  We encourage you to ask management for information to questions you have.

Keep your union updated on the responses you receive and if you have issues receiving them, let us know.

In Solidarity,

 

Your CUPE 1063 Executive Committee