New ServiceOntario Customer Service Representative (CSR) Classification
March 9, 2010
ServiceOntario is implementing a new Customer Service
Representative (CSR) classification. There are over 1,500 OPSEU members
employed by Service Ontario. Approximately 1,000 are being transferred into
the new CSR class series. There will be no loss in OPSEU jobs and no one is
having their wages reduced. Those who are being matched to the new CSR
positions will get a slight increase in their job rate. However, over one
hundred members will have their wages red-circled, or frozen, until wage
increases overtake their current wage. Members who work in Land Registry
Offices (LRO) and in Office of the Registrar General (ORG) will not be
affected.
Since 1997, when the Harris Government passed legislation
preventing government employees from grieving job classifications, our
ability to challenge job classifications has been restricted. OPSEU has
filed a challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms over this
restriction from bargaining our classifications.
In November 2009, ServiceOntario management approached the
OPSEU Central Table (CERC) stating they were creating a new job
classification series, and asked if OPSEU wished to provide input. As with
most similar OPS consultations, one of the employer’s pre-conditions was
that OPSEU not announce the discussions.
The OPSEU representatives decided it would be in the best
interest of our members to enter discussions with the employer in an attempt
to mitigate any damage and positively influence the outcome. Unfortunately,
OPSEU was only able to provide input – we did not have any negotiating
ability on the creation of the new job classification or how the jobs are
being mapped from the old class series to the new class series. OPSEU
representatives believe our participation did have a positive impact on the
outcome, but not to the extent we sought.
OPSEU raised some serious concerns about the proposed
piecemeal rollout to Deputy Minister Bob Stark on February 10, as stated
below.
“The MGS MERC Team has serious concerns about the
employer’s proposed announcement of the new CSR classifications. Your
Q&As provide information on red-circling which will leave all staff
wondering who is affected. The approach of providing partial information
to staff will cause undue stress and anxiety which won’t be alleviated
for 2 1/2 to 3 months before staff will know their fate. In addition,
both sides of our MERC Team would be inundated by a huge number of staff
seeking out answers that at this time our side can’t provide, because of
the “two wave” process. From our perspective we would be left with no
other alternative but to direct all queries to the management…because we
have not received any direction on what information can be released at
this time. We have already witnessed an increase in calls/concerns when
local Management informed staff that their job specs were being
reviewed. The proposed rollout of the new CSR classification clearly has
the potential of being a logistical nightmare. It will also create chaos
and speculation in the rest of Service Ontario if staff are not also
provided with a communication update about their status with regards to
their jobs and their jobs specs. Our Team is strongly recommending that
the Employer hold off on making the announcement until they are ready to
roll out the whole package.”
Cheryl Rhodes
For the MGS MERC Team, OPSEU
A large number of you have voiced your disapproval of this
rollout, and the union understands and respects how this troubling news will
affect yourself and your family. OPSEU will continue to vigilantly advocate
on your behalf, and over the next couple of weeks your representatives will
convey your concerns to the employer and keep you appraised on the next
steps.
Please feel free to contact your OPSEU representatives in
your workplace, who in turn will forward all queries to your MERC team.
