DISPUTE BETWEEN CEU v WCB

A strike coordinating conference call was held Thursday July 16 for the Compensation Employees Union to brief affiliates on their dispute with the Workers Compensation Board.

Background:

The contract expired in April 2014. Bargaining with the employer began in May 2014 was put on hold because of a number of high profile issues the employer was engaged in. Bargaining reconvened in May 2015 but has since broken off. The CEU has requested that the employer return to the bargaining table but has not received a response to date.

Main Issues:

The employer is seeking an increase in the number of employees that may work overtime on weekends without receiving overtime pay. Currently this is permitted for 5-10% of permanent employees in the bargaining unit and the employer is requesting to increase it to 20-30%.

The CEU is seeking improved language around workload for those employees engaged in case management, investigation, prevention, vocational rehabilitation. They are seeking an increase in the low rate of pay for employees working on standby/on-call. They are seeking some improvements in benefits.

Job Action:

There is now a ban on overtime and a ban on attending coaching and performance management meetings. The overtime ban will not apply to prevention officers, investigation officers on standby/on-call. It will also not apply to those members engaged in the Babine Inquiry.

The employer has obtained an essential service order that applies to employees working in the WCB building facilities, IT, Investigations and Prevention.

Support from Affiliates:

The CEU has requested that affiliates support them by letting their members know that the CEU is in a legal position to strike and that while they are engaged in minimal strike action the overtime ban may result in some service disruption, particularly phone calls and delays regarding claims.