Bargaining information for OPSEU members
at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Issue 3 - February 8, 2010
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Looking for improvements in the contract? The employer
is
“Not interested whatsoever”
“Not interested whatsoever”…that has been the employer’s
response to almost all the demands we are putting forward at the bargaining
table.
Here’s what they are not interested whatsoever in…so far:
-
Grievance streamlining, and their total lack of
adherence to timelines.
-
The integrity of our bargaining unit, and the use of
retirees and agency staff.
-
Compressed work week agreements
-
Recognition of time spent on contract towards
seniority
-
Reduction on the amount of time disciplinary letters
stay on employees’ files
What the team finds amazing is that the same employer is
saying that the pace of bargaining is moving too slowly. They want “more
face time” with our bargaining team. We are more than happy to show the
employer our faces at the table, but it would be a lot more productive if
the employer wasn’t denying almost every item we are putting forward.
Your team is disappointed with the lack of progress so far.
We have yet to come to an agreement on any significant items of discussion.
We will continue to push our issues forward. In the days
ahead, we’re sure we will find a way to get the employer “interested” in
actually bargaining.
Team receives information on Organizational Review
The bargaining team has finally received information from
the employer on their proposals for the Organizational Review. However,
getting that information came at a price.
To get the employer’s plans, the union had to sign a
confidentiality agreement that is in effect until February 19. That means we
are unable to share it with you until then. While we could have filed to
legally obtain the information, it would have taken weeks and not arrived in
time for it to be useful in bargaining.
Here’s what we can say: There is information in the
employer’s plans that is extremely disturbing to the team. We will have a
LOT to say to the employer about their plans. We will have a lot MORE to say
to you after February 19.
Of even more serious concern is that the team feels we still
haven’t received all the information from the employer on the re-org plans.
There is no possible way we can get to a negotiated collective agreement if
we don’t have all this critical information.
NOT just union rumours
In Issue #2, we told you about the employer’s plans to turn
full-time jobs into seasonal and part-time
We have learned that some managers have been telling our
members (or have been told to tell our members) that this issue is “nothing
but union rumours.”
In response, we are compelled to present to you Items #1a
and #1b from the “Bargaining Agenda of the Employer.”
1a. The issue of part-time and/or seasonal employment should
be addressed.
1b. The issue of temporary lay-off language should be
addressed.
Nowhere on the document we received did we see “Rumoured
Agenda of the Employer.”
Thank you for your continued support!
Your team is back at the table February 10-11 and February
17-19. We will keep you posted.
Keep in touch!
To ensure a speedy response to your questions, your leadership team has divided up all MPAC offices in the province. If you have a question or a comment, please contact the bargaining team member responsible for your office. Contact us by e-mail at work or at home, as follows:
Ivan Herrington, Chair: Barrie, Kitchener,
London, Milner (CCC, CPF, LPU),
Mississauga, Trenton.
E-mail: iherrington@cogeco.ca; herriniv@mpac.ca
Gary Cooper: Brantford, Chatham, Goderich, Hamilton, Owen Sound, Sarnia, Windsor.
Email: gcooper@iaw.com; cooperga@mpac.ca
Everett Kelly: Oshawa, Peterborough,
Pickering, Richmond Hill, Toronto.
E-mail: evkelly@rogers.com; kellyev@mpac.ca
David Lynch: Bracebridge, Dryden, Fort
Frances, Kenora, North Bay, Ottawa, Parry
Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins.
E-mail: opseu409@yahoo.ca; lynchda@mpac.ca
Bill Robertson: Bancroft, Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston, Pembroke.
E-mail: robertson2@cogeco.ca; robertbi@mpac.ca
Rob Field, OPSEU Staff Negotiator
E-mail: rfield@opseu.org
ImpacT At the Table
is produced by the bargaining team for the Property Assessment Division of
the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and authorized for distribution
by Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president.
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