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Newsletter: Impact
Volume 12, Issue
4 • February 2013
‘Breaking down’ the silos…one friend at a time
In
management’s last reorganization, they stated that they were trying to break
down the silos that existed within MPAC. Thus, they combined the Residential
& Farm and the Business sections to form one new section.
They also
decided to keep their Centralized Properties Branch separate and expand it
by creating 23 new PA5 positions. This is great news for Assessors…but, of
course, only if you are a current member of the FFF Club (Friends, Family,
Favourites).
Rather
than post and fill these all of these positions as per the terms of the
Collective Agreement, management has chosen to hand pick 16 of the 23
positions and only post seven for competition.
So,
instead of breaking down silos, it appears that MPAC has built a brand new
one…with a little help from their friends.
The union
has filed a policy grievance on this. Perhaps, at some point, the employer
might get the hint. Maybe we’ll change the name of the club to Friends,
Family and Selects…it would make a more appropriate acronym.
Kudos
Korner wants you
Got a manager that could use some union kudos? Then we want to hear from
you!
You know these managers…those clueless souls who are unclear on the concepts
of employee relations, desperately nosing themselves into the trough or
those who have made it their lifetime ambition to make everyone else’s
lifetime unbearable.
If you’ve got a nominee for Kudos Korner, contact us. We’d be glad to pass
on some sorely deserved recognition!
A tip
of the cap…or not
A hiccup
has revealed itself in the way that Standard Life is paying out paramedical
claims.
As you
know, the union managed to remove the $50 per visit cap and we now have a
$1,200 per year cap. There wasn't a problem until about two months ago when
Standard Life started paying out only their “Reasonable and Customary”
amount which is only $46.50.
Currently
we are in discussions with the employer to try and sort this out, but we may
end up filing a policy grievance on this issue as well.
Get those delegates ready
A
quick reminder to schedule your local election meetings to elect delegates,
alternates and observers for both the upcoming annual OPSEU Convention (Apr.
25-27) and the Biennial Broader Public Service (BPS) Conference (June 21).
Both of these are very important union events, and it is your local’s chance
to ensure you have representatives at the meetings.
Ask and ye shall receive...sorta
At the last UMC meeting the issue of MPAC reviewing their hiring practices
was raised. Specifically, we asked why the employer wasn’t asking bargaining
unit employees for input.
To our great surprise, we find out that MPAC will ask the five UMC members
and 75 randomly-chosen bargaining unit staff to participate in an anonymous
process to provide hiring process review suggestions.
Let’s see how many suggestions they implement.
A salute to Mike Abrams
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mike Abrams, a
long-time steward in the Kitchener office.
Our condolences go to Mike’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Stay 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 team member responsible for your
office. Contact us by e-mail at work or at home, as follows:
David Lynch, Chair:
Bracebridge, London, Mississauga, Ottawa, Barrie, Brockville, Cornwall,
Pembroke, Trenton, Bancroft & Kingston
E-mail:
opseu409@yahoo.ca ;
david.lynch@mpac.ca
Peter McClenaghan, Vice Chair:
St. Catharines, Goderich, Chatham, Sarnia, Windsor, Kitchener & Brantford
E-mail:
pmcclenaghan2020@yahoo.com
;
peter.mcclenaghan@mpac.ca
Everett Kelly:
Oshawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Toronto & Peterborough
E-mail:
evkelly@rogers.com ;
everett.kelly@mpac.ca
David Fong:
North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie,
Timmins, Thunder Bay, Kenora, Fort
Francis & Dryden
E-mail:
visor243@nt.net ;
david.fong@mpac.ca
Steve Kovacs:
Milner (CCC, CPF, LPU), Owen Sound, Hamilton & Parry Sound
E-Mail:
stevekovie@hotmail.com ;
steve.kovacs@mpac.ca
Mirla Alvarado-Fenn, OPSEU Staff
Negotiator
E-mail:
malvarado@opseu.org
OPSEU ImpacT is
produced by the Property Assessment Division of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union and authorized for distribution by Warren (Smokey) Thomas,
president.
MPAC Newsletter
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