Your Union was recently made aware of ICBC’s new alcohol use policy. Several members have brought concerns forward with regards to the arbitrary authority that this policy gives to ICBC managers alongside concerns that ICBC is trying to assert control and authority over areas of members’ lives that have nothing to do with the workplace.

COPE is entirely in support of policies that prohibit the consumption of alcohol in the workplace.
 
Our concern with ICBC’s policy is not related to our mutual support of ensuring workplaces are alcohol-free.
 
Instead, the concerns of the union stems from the Corporation’s efforts to extend their authority  into areas of members’ lives over which they have no, and should have no, jurisdiction or interest. This includes unpaid lunch periods.
 
We believe that if the Corporation has issues with alcohol consumption they can address those individual situations as they arise, not through a sweeping policy that infringes on employees’ freedoms to have a glass of wine or something similar during a meal.
 
As with other matters, if you are subject to any disciplinary action that you feel is the result of ICBC inappropriately delving into your personal life, we encourage you to pursue this matter through a grievance.
 
Jaime Zygmunt
Senior Union Representative
 
David Black
COPE 378 Vice President

A Membership Meeting has been scheduled as follows:

DATE:   Monday, March 22nd, 2010

TIME:    5:00 pm

PLACE: BC Fed - Executive Board Room

AGENDA:

• Pension bargaining
• Bargaining proposals for new collective agreement

On March 16th your union received Layoff notice from the employer which will affect thirteen (13) Accenture members.
 
The affected members work in the Application Outsourcing and Financial Services departments.
 
These members will have full union representation. They were informed of the layoff by Accenture with two Union Representatives and an Executive Union Councillor present.
 
Accenture will present the members with the options due to them as per their collective agreement next week, and the Union Reps will be available to guide the affected members through the options package. The Reps will work with the members to ensure they have full access all resources and rights available.
 
We know this is a difficult and stressful situation to face. Your collective agreement does provide a process and a range of choices for COPE 378 members dealing with this situation. For more information read Article 9 – Displacement, Layoff and Recall of your collective agreement.
 
These layoffs raise larger questions. We’re very concerned this is another manipulation of the BC Hydro-Accenture contract to maintain the illusion of good services and good value. Our members are taking the hit when the gears of this unfair, unsustainable and uneconomic contract breaks down.
 
We’re investigating who will be doing the displaced work, how that fits within the contract and any possible impacts other members. We’re continuing to pressure the provincial government to openly defend the business case for the BC Hydro-Accenture contract. Just last week we asked the Auditor General – again – to exercise his mandate and publically review the contract. We’re working to defend your jobs and the integrity of your service.
 
If you have any questions about this issue or any other matters in your workplace, please don’t hesitate to contact the union office at 604-299-0378 or info@cope378.ca.   
 
In solidarity,
 
Andy Ross
President, COPE 378

Accenture Outsourcing Contract Ends

Global outsourcing giant Accenture was dealt a devastating blow this week by a BC Utilities Commission decision allowing Terasen to bring Customer Care and other jobs back in-house, says the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 (COPE 378).

Hundreds of new employees—and future COPE 378 members—will be hired within the next two years to work at new Terasen Customer Care centers in Surrey and Prince George. COPE 378 helped to get BCUC approval by concluding a Collective Agreement for the new worksites, ensuring the new Terasen workers good jobs with fair wages.

The Customer Care work was originally outsourced in 2002, but over eight years the outsourcing contract increased in cost and decreased in service, and Terasen moved to sever the relationship with Accenture. Terasen’s application to the BCUC laid bare the inefficiencies, technical incompatibilities and cost increases incurred by the Accenture contract. Terasen remarked in one document, “The payment of penalties to Terasen Gas accompanied by service shortfalls is not a sustainable model going forward.”

Terasen submitted evidence showing throughout North America public and private utilities are moving away from outsourcing and bringing workers back into their own operations. During the hearing Terasen submitted that it was only logical that outsourcing would in the end cost more because the outsourcers had to earn a profit.

COPE 378 Vice President Bob Derby called the decision a great leap forward for workers and giant step back for the future of outsourcing. “One down, one to go,” said Derby, “Now we need to wake up the provincial government to what everyone else already knows: outsourcing costs more and doesn’t work. It’s time to give Accenture their walking papers out of the province and out of BC Hydro.”

“Common sense is winning out,” observed Derby. “Companies are opting to bring their employees back in-house to control costs and protect quality levels. It’s a healthy move for both workers and the employer.”

In preparation for 2010 bargaining we have set our first membership meeting for Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 5 pm at the COPE 378 office. The main purpose of the meeting will be to elect our bargaining committee, discuss bargaining issues and our communications plan. Should you be unable to attend we have made arrangements for you to call in and attend via teleconference.

Your Conference On Demand information is as follows:
•  Participant Access Code: 9718813#
•  Dial In Numbers: 604-899-2339 (Vancouver)
•  Toll Free: 1-877-385-4099 North America
The calling instructions for your Conference call:
1.  Enter the dial-in number.
2.  When prompted, enter your conference access code followed by the # sign.
3.  If you have any problems, stay on the line and an agent will assist you.

WHERE: COPE 378, 2nd Floor boardroom, 4595 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC.
WHEN:    MARCH 18, 2010 at 5 pm

Please email cwishart@cope378.ca with your home email address so we can keep you up to date on CIATU issues. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact your Job Steward or your Union Representative.

In solidarity,
Cynthia Wishart, Union Representative (cel. 604 551-4609)

In preparation for 2010 bargaining, we want to get your opinions on priorities and issues you would like to see addressed at the bargaining table.

Accordingly, we have set up a bargaining survey on our website at http://www.cope378.ca/translink-bargaining-survey. This short survey will cover a range of issues and priorities and help give your Bargaining Committee its mandate to negotiate an agreement in line with your collective needs and priorities.

We are committed to negotiating an agreement that improves the current collective agreement and ensures that you have the wages and benefits that you deserve. To do this, we need your full input and engagement, and we need to be sure that we are negotiating with a strong mandate from you, the members.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and outline your priorities. These results, combined with the results from the recent focus groups and ongoing member consultations, will for the basis of our proposals. Once we have a full suite of proposals and have established a timeline for bargaining, we will be in touch with you regarding the next steps. Please make sure that you have completed the survey by Friday March 12 at 4 PM. The Bargaining Committee will shortly thereafter to begin assessing the results.

Once again, the survey is available online at http://www.cope378.ca/translink-bargaining-survey.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your Job Steward or Union Staff Representative.

Your COPE 378 Bargaining Committee,
Kevin Payne, Union Representative

We want to draw your attention to two letters recently sent to your Union from the Employer in regards to the labour dispute at Hertz.

First Letter: Hertz Denies Vacation Pay as an Economic Tool to End Strike - Its Your Money and They Refuse to Give It to You

Hertz announced they are denying payment of your pre-approved vacation time. They say this is consistent with “economic tools that are used to resolve labour disputes...." The letter from Hertz’ lawyers is attached to this bulletin. 

Your Union vehemently disagrees with this position. To deny pre-approved vacations as a pressure tactic is offensive. Many of you have told us you’ve made commitments of both time and money. Some members have bought plane tickets and booked accommodations. And now the Employer refuses to pay you the money you have already earned.

We have asked our lawyers to explore all options available to reinstate your vacation pay. In the meantime, if you have pre-approved vacation coming up, please discuss your options with Ryan Stewart.

Second Letter: Hertz Wants Flexible Job Security, from Paul Dorion

You may have received a letter from Paul Dorion on Hertz letterhead from South McDonald Road. As you know, Mr. Dorion works out of the province.

As to the content of the letter, we wish to address the misleading information provided by Mr. Dorion.

Mr. Dorion, along with Steve Conliffe and Jeff Nayda, told us the wage increases and the signing bonus were off the table. They were only prepared to agree to job security language as long as the clause ended with the weasel words “…unless business circumstances as determined by the company dictate otherwise” Their proposal made the job security language meaningless.

As Mr. Dorion states, Hertz likes the "flexibility to respond to economic conditions." As employees of Hertz, you have seen what Hertz means by “flexibility.” It has meant the entire Handheld Instant Return (HIR) department was turned into a part-time workforce. It has meant an increase use of part-time hours in the Service Agent and Customer Service Representative areas. Hertz now has the highest use of part-time workers of all the rental companies we represent at YVR.

Comparison of Part-time hours vs. Full time positions at YVR car rentals: 

When you consider this in ratios:

• 11% of the Avis employees in the CSR and HIR position are working part time hours
• 17% of the National employees in the CSR and HIR position are working part-time hours
• 41% of the Hertz employees in the CSR and HIR position are working part-time hours

While Hertz expects workers to be flexible, over the last two years, no managers have been asked to work part-time. No managers have been laid off due to economic conditions.

The question to ask yourself is this: If Hertz has no plans to turn your full-time jobs into part-time, why won't they put that into the agreement? Their second final offer does nothing to improve the protection of full-time workers from becoming part-time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime at the Union office: 604.299.0378. 

In solidarity,

Robert Derby, Vice President
Brad Bastien, Senior Union Representative

Your benefits coverage during the strike period will be paid by your Union in accordance with COPE 378’s by-laws. Coverage will be as listed below.

• COPE 378 will cover your Medical Services Premiums (MSP), your Extended Health Insurance and your Life Insurance.
• COPE 378 will cover urgent dental care costs on a case-by-case basis, determined at the discretion of the Union.

Coverage by your Union will begin on March 1st, 2010. Your previous coverage will be in effect until that time.

If you have any questions about your benefits coverage, please call Ryan Stewart at 778-889-7737.
 

Join the Laff Riot Girls for an evening of all female stand-up comedy as they head to the great outdoors with their annual celebration of International Women’s Day.

For four years now, they’ve brought you the best in comedy with the I Am Woman series in honour of International Women’s Day. This year the entertaining tradition continues with more laughter and whimsical delight as the community comes together for this annual tribute to women. What better way to join in the global celebration of the achievements of women and to encourage the women in our city to reach for their full potential? Come and be a part of the festivities and the fun!

COPE 378’s Events and Social Planning Committee is having a special discounted rate of $10 (regular price $25) for the “I Am Women! Hear Me Laff 5 – Naughty by Nature” show. This price is offered to all COPE 378 members and their family and friends.

When:              Monday, March 8, 2010

Time:               Show is 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Where:            Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre

                        3800 33rd Street, Vernon

 To request tickets, please call Nancy Devries at 250-260-7260. The deadline to request tickets is Tuesday, March 2nd.

Please note: If you request tickets and are unable to attend, please advise Nancy as soon as possible.

In Solidarity,

Karin Cirez

Chair, Women’s Committee