Where do skill and experience fit in to MPAC's plan?

April 1, 2002

TO: Mr. Peter Hume and the MPAC Board of Directors

I just received a very cruel joke from MPAC today on April Fools Day. After six interviews that I qualified for, I did not even receive the equal type of job that I have done in the last five years.

I am a senior property assessor with 20 years’ experience. I have worked for the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, OPAC, and now MPAC. I have been told that my interviews have been very good, my resume and work history and public relation skills are exceptional. Unfortunately, I don't have a job. Senior Assessors are redundant.

I would really like to know exactly what this new Futures management team is looking for. I doubt if this reorganization is going to produce a better assessment system and customer service when they are hiring inexperienced, unskilled workers. In fact, one employee received a huge promotion even after being suspended from the job for two days for illicit use of MPAC's computers!

If an employer does not treat its employees well, how do they expect employees to treat the clients and each other? Right now everyone is competing against each other for a job. Morale is the worst it's ever been in my 20 years of service. Many grievances have been filed (over 200 and more coming in every day) and if the employees are unhappy, productivity is nil. It seems strange that MPAC didn't work with their own employees, restructure the organization and use the staff who are already experienced in assessment in order to improve the entire process. Instead, we have to apply for our own jobs; many employees are going to be in a surplus position and eventually there will be layoffs. Upper management staff are getting huge wages while many working level staff are being laid off. The turmoil in this organization is beyond belief.

I have been President of the Institute of Municipal Assessors, Vice-President of my local Chamber of Commerce, Director on our National Historic Museum and have constantly upgraded my assessment and technical skills through numerous courses at University and Colleges over the past 20 years. I cannot believe I did not even qualify for a Customer Service Representative job!!! I have enclosed my suggestions for MPAC. Please take the time to look at them. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Sincerely,

Gail Mason, M.I.M.A., Baden

 

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