MTO workforce "Serco-sized"
If we had any illusions about how Serco will manage Ontario's driver exam centres, last week's events confirmed our worst fears. The company cherry-picked who's in and who's out.
Maybe you're one of the few "lucky" ones to land a permanent job with the company -- if you can pass the "security check." But how permanent is permanent remains to be seen. Six months is all they'll guarantee.
Maybe you got an offer that cuts your hours from full-time to part-time. The company apparently thinks that makes them - and you - more flexible.
Maybe you got one of the hundreds of "temporary" positions: No job security, rotating shifts, maybe no benefits.
Maybe you got an offer to work in another town, forcing you to commute or pull up stakes.
Take it or leave it. You had five days to make your decision; hope you made the right choice.
Or maybe you got no job offer at all. Take a look around: This company appears to have no room for the older, experienced people.
So much for a trained workforce. You could call it being "Serco-sized."
Remember when Serco promised a "fresh approach" and said they needed a large number of experienced employees? The events of last week put the lie to that, especially if you happened to be on sick leave or accommodation. No job offer.
So far, the company has got it all its own way.
They've been slick in paying lip service on their web site to issues like health and safety. But they're short on facts about what that will actually mean. Questions in last month's DEC Notes remain unanswered by the company.
Who will make them follow through on their commitments? Who will protect people from abuse by management? What benefits will you get?
So far, Serco is keeping information close to its vest. They have not even divulged the turnover date.
But one thing seems clear: Serco has a lot of worldwide experience making a profit on privatized government operations.
What they don't have is much respect for the individuals who actually do the work.
And good luck on your security check.
"Exciting challenge"
Serco has wasted no time in looking for new driver examiners and customer service agents to replace the MTO employees it refused to hire last week. The company posted ads in the Toronto Star and Workopolis.com "seeking people who are interested in taking on an interesting and exciting new challenge." OPSEU urges all who
didn't get job offers to apply.
This newsletter
Please forward this newsletter to as many of your colleagues as possible. it may be their only source for the “straight goods” on Serco so they can make an informed decision about their future. Let us know what you want to see in future issues. To receive it by e-mail, send your e-mail address to
dcox@opseu.org .
Contact OPSEU
Organizing: Contact OPSEU at 1-800-268-7376. Organizers for the DEC campaign are Paul Dunseith at ext.355 pdunseith@opseu.org, Ed Ogibowski at ext. 362, Connie Huziak at ext. 327 and Stefan Michnowiec
at (416) 405-0050.
Your Job Security Officer is: Judith Marion, OPSEU x 370 jmarion@opseu.org
Your Reasonable Efforts Committee is: John O’Brien, Hm. (807)-628-8066; cell (807)-628-4364; jobrien2@tbaytel.net ; Gail Kreutzkamp home (519)-742-4017;
gailkreutzkamp@hotmail.com; Stephan Michnowiec, pager, 416-405-0050
Your MERC Team is: John O’Brien (as above), Serge Valcourt (705) 472-7900 x 6490, Robert Houston (519) 372-4045, Peggy Maybury (416) 235-4218. Or contact your Staff Representative or the steward in your workplace.
DEC Notes is published as a regular update for OPSEU staff in Driver Examiner Centres. More information on the government’s planned transfer of services can be viewed at:
http://www.opseu.org/campaign/mtooindex.htm on the OPSEU web site.
Authorized for Distribution:
Leah Casselman, President
