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Main Page News Archives All news articles from the main page will be archived here. Articles BTS Membership Report Published: September 4, 2009  Print  On August 31, and September 1, 2009 the bargaining committee met with BTS management to review a number of issues relating to the new collective agreement. A further meeting to follow-up on outstanding issues is planned for September 22. The committee will send another report after that meeting. Here is a summary of the discussions: 1. Transfers and Upgrades: As part of the new contract, the Company has agreed to upgrade 141 employees (31 to RFT, 110 to RPT). Prior to the upgrades, transfer requests are to be granted. By the next meeting on September 22 all employee transfers will be completed and the full list of upgrades will be finalized. The upgrades will be completed by the beginning of the next pay period on October 4. Wage increases related to upgrades will be made retroactive to the beginning of the contract on May 6. The Company has agreed to discuss possibilities for further upgrades during a meeting to be scheduled in mid-October. 2. Recognition Days: As a settlement to all grievances regarding the 5 recognition days, the Company has agreed to provide the 5 recognition days for all employees which are to be taken by the end of 2010. A new code of REC is to be used. Scheduling of the 5 days are by employee request and will be granted based upon the needs of the business. Management told us that it is unlikely that days will be granted in September because of high work volumes, but that starting in October it is expected that more days will be granted upon request. The system is being updated in October so that the use of recognition days can be tracked on employee’s pay stubs. 3. Benefits for Temporary Employees: Temporary employees with more than one year of service will receive a letter to their homes in the next weeks explaining their option to sign-up for the benefit plan. Those temporary employees who were already in the benefit plan but who were paying all of their own premiums will be reimbursed the Company’s 50% portion retroactive to the beginning of the contract. The Union recommends that those employees who were not in the benefit plan previously, but who have had benefit costs since May 6, 2009, e.g. dental or prescription drugs, should keep all of their receipts as we determine how these can be retroactively reimbursed. 4. Group RRSP Contributions Increase: The Company has yet to increase their contribution to the Group RRSP citing a dispute with the benefit provider over the creation of the new DPSP. They expect to have this resolved shortly and the increase will be made retroactive back to May 6th 2009. 5. Guaranteed days for Temps: Letter of agreement # 9 stipulates that temporary employees are now guaranteed days of work (four days per pay period in the busy season and two days per pay period in the slow period). The Union has told the Company that it is our view that these days should be shown on the work schedule, just as guaranteed work days are shown for RPT employees. The Company had agreed to review the Union’s position with the scheduling department and report back at our next meeting on September 22. 6. Company use of GPS on vehicles: The Union outlined examples where managers were going beyond the intent of the policy on the use of GPS and were instead using the GPS to monitor the daily travel of employees. We told them that the GPS should only be used for health and safety reasons and for tracking fuel efficiency, not as a tool to spy on employees. The Company has agreed to investigate and to ensure that mangers are properly following the policy and that employee privacy is being respected. 7. Granting of TGP time: The Company reconfirmed the Unions position and agreed that, as per article 17.06 b), the employee who provides one month’s notice of request to use TGP time, shall have the time granted, except for Saturdays and holidays and provided the combined number of employees on TGP and vacation does not exceed the percentage of employees permitted to be on vacation, which is usually 20%, as per article 19.06 8. Company Clothing: The Ontario and Quebec Bargaining Committees will meet with the Company on Sept 23rd 2009 to discuss the issues related to the new Clothing that will be given to employees in the coming months as per Letter of Agreement # 10. In Solidarity, Shawn Cowan, Jim Fling, Sam Snyders, Sean Howes 538 Views |
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