Month: July 2018

Community health workers represented by UFCW 1518 voted in favour of a tentative agreement reached with health employers.

UFCW 1518 represents about 2,000 of the 16,000 home support workers who ratified the three-year contract, which takes effect April 1, 2019.

The new collective agreement brings in yearly wage increases of two percent in each of the next three years in addition to enhanced benefits, provisions for improved scheduling and steps to address staff retention.

“Community health workers deliver critical services to some of the most vulnerable people living in British Columbia,” said Secretary-Treasurer Kim Novak.  “This agreement is a step forward for our members and the communities they serve.”

Today’s vote announcement comes after a tentative agreement was reached in mid-June, the result of weeks of negotiations between the Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA), a coordinated multi-union group, and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).

Highlights of the agreement include: wage increases of six per cent over three years for all workers; improvement of employment security provisions; creation of task force to investigate guaranteed hours and other issues, and additional funding for the Enhanced Disability Management Program.

“I want to thank our bargaining committee for their dedication and contribution to this round of negotiations. They had a complex and important task and they represented our members well,” said Secretary-Treasurer Novak.

The labour minister has invoked Section 106 of the BC Labour Relations Code less than a handful of times in the last 30 years. It is thus the extraordinary labour dispute that commands the appointment of a Special Officer under the Code. We have compiled an FAQ for members who want to inform themselves about the Section 106 proceedings between UFCW 1518 and Sobeys and how this process relates to negotiations for the reopener of the collective agreement.

Q. What has happened so far?

A. Last March, President Ivan Limpright appealed to the Minster of Labour, Harry Bains, for assistance after negotiations for the reopener of the collective agreement between UFCW 1518 and Sobeys stalled. The company demanded only concessions while the union stood firm in attempting to negotiate a fair collective agreement for all members.

Minister Bains appointed Vince Ready, a well known mediator and arbitrator, as Special Officer under Section 106 of the BC Labour Relations Code. In the event of a dispute relating to the collective agreement, Section 106 allows the labour minister to appoint a Special officer in order to “preserve industrial peace.”

In May, Special Officer Ready met separately with the union bargaining committee and the company. After assessing the parties as being very far apart in their positions (with the company demanding serious concessions and the union refusing to concede) he requested they provide written submissions outlining the major outstanding issues. For the union, this includes its right of first refusal grievance related to the 10 Safeway store closures, the reopener of the collective agreement and Sobeys’ desire for a new banner (FreshCo).

 

Q: Is the Section 106 process the same as Final Offer Selection?

A: No. The Section 106 proceedings are entirely different, governed by a specific process set out under the BC Labour Relations Code. Vince Ready was appointed as Special Officer by the government to intervene in the dispute between UFCW 1518 and Sobeys, which affects upwards of 4000 Safeway members.

 

Q: What is the Special Officer able to do?

A: The powers of the Special Officer are outlined in the BC Labour Relations Code:

(2) On his or her appointment, the special officer must investigate the dispute or difference and may

(a) confer with the parties,

(b) hold hearings,

(c) make recommendations,

(d) make orders he or she considers necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, orders that the dispute or difference be submitted to a specified stage or step in the grievance procedure under the collective agreement, or

(e) arbitrate the dispute or difference himself or herself.

 

Q: I’ve heard that the Sobeys has said that UFCW 1518 is delaying bargaining. What is actually happening?

A: The employer alleges that the union has used stall tactics in order to delay bargaining. In fact, what we have done is responsibly challenge Sobeys’ desire to force major concessions on our members. The union bargaining committee received and reviewed the employer’s written submission and submitted our rebuttal.

 

Q: What is the timeline for any decisions, orders or recommendations from the Special Officer?

A: This is at the discretion of Special Officer Ready. We have no information about next steps at this time, but will share any new information with members as we receive it. As the Special Officer is on vacation in August, we do not expect to hear anything until after he returns.

Despite allegations from Sobeys that the union has delayed bargaining, UFCW 1518 continues to responsibly challenge the employer’s major concessionary demands.

The union bargaining committee received and has reviewed Sobeys’ position, submitted to Special Officer Vince Ready as part of the Section 106 proceedings. Mr. Ready was appointed as Special Officer by Labour Minister Harry Bains when President Ivan Limpright appealed to the government for help after negotiations for the reopener of the collective agreement stalled last March.

The union will provide a fulsome response to the employer’s position by July 20. After that, Special Officer Ready will review all submissions and advise the parties of next steps. No dates for future meetings have been set as yet.

Section 106 proceedings between UFCW 1518 and Sobeys continue, headed by Special Officer Vince Ready.

It is evident to Special Officer Ready that the parties have reached a deadlock, with the employer continuing to demand poverty concessions and the bargaining committee rejecting all concessionary demands.

That’s why the Special Officer requested written submissions on outstanding issues from both union and company. For UFCW 1518, this includes the union’s right of first refusal grievance related to the 10 Safeway store closures, the reopener of the collective agreement and Sobeys’ desire for a new banner (FreshCo).

The union submitted its position along with a rationale. Sobeys will respond to Special Officer Ready by July 13. The bargaining committee will review the company’s response and submit the union’s rebuttal by July 20. The Special Officer will then consider all of the submissions and alert the parties of next steps. No future meeting dates have yet been scheduled.

“The bargaining committee has been working tirelessly to stand up for our Sobeys members and fight for a fair  contract with improvements to job security, wages and benefits. They’re also working to ensure members can capture more hours and move up the wage scale faster,” said President Ivan Limpright. “And this is in the face of Sobeys’ relentless concessionary demands. No doubt about it, it’s a battle.”