Summary of Outstanding Issues Related to Collective Bargaining Between the Government of the Northwest Territories and Union of Northern Workers

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Summary of Outstanding Issues Related to Collective Bargaining Between the Government of the Northwest Territories and Union of Northern Workers"

Martha Casey
5 years ago
Views:

1 Summary f Outstanding Issues Related t Cllective Bargaining Between the Gvernment f the Nrthwest Territries and Unin f Nrthern Wrkers The GNWT is cmmitted t reaching a cllective agreement that meets the interests f bth parties thrugh the bargaining prcess. The infrmatin presented n the fllwing page is intended t prvide a summary f the utstanding majr issues in the negtiatins between the GNWT and Unin f Nrthern Wrkers (UNW). Full details n the GNWT and UNW prpsals can be fund at: A Nte n the GNWT s fiscal reality The GNWT is ging thrugh a perid f stagnant revenue. Over the first three years f the 18th Assembly, revenues have declined by $84 millin. Over that same perid shrt term debt is frecast t increase by $56 millin as spending has exceeded revenue. Accumulated shrt term debt is frecast t be slightly ver $300 millin at the end f The UNW s mnetary prpsals wuld add an additinal $41.9 millin in n ging expenditures fr It wuld als, withut changing GNWT s prgrams and services, add ver $75 millin t the GNWT debt by the end f nce retractive payments wuld be made. This estimate des nt include the cst related t prviding the same increases t nn uninized emplyees, as is the typical practice. Prepared by the GNWT Page 1

2 1. Pay Schedules April 1, % April 1, % April 1, % April 1, % April 1, % April 1, % April 1, % 2. Duratin and Renewal 3 years 4 years 3. Nrthern Allwance Effective April 1, 2016 new $500 Envirnmental cmpnent methdlgy t be discussed Effective April 1, 2018 new $250 Envirnmental cmpnent methdlgy t be the same as applied t Cst f Living cmpnent in current Nrthern Allwance 4. Layffs The GNWT t prvide six mnths ntice t UNW befre any layff, fllwed by cnsultatin with UNW t discuss alternatives t reductins. Reductins t be sught first thrugh attritin, then early retirement, and vluntary separatin. Layff t be in reverse rder f senirity within emplyee s classificatin in the fllwing rder: Students Casual emplyees Term emplyees Relief emplyees Part time indeterminate emplyees Full time indeterminate emplyees Laid ff emplyees will be n a recall list fr tw years and recalled in rder f senirity. N new emplyees shall be hired while any emplyees are n a recall list. The GNWT t enhance the already extensive layff prvisins f the cllective agreement by adding a Letter f Understanding regarding Vluntary Separatin in Cases f Eliminatin f Psitin t include: Vluntary Separatin prir t ntice f layff, emplyees in psitins cntemplated fr eliminatin will be advised f their ability t request Vluntary Separatin. Vluntary Separatin currently allws fr severance pay based n years f cntinuus service. If mre emplyees request Vluntary Separatin than the number f psitins cntemplated fr eliminatin, length f service will be the deciding factr in determining which emplyee(s) will receive Vluntary Separatin. Bridging prvisins fr unreduced pensin An emplyee wh receives Vluntary Separatin and wh is within 6 mnths f the terminatin date due t lay ff, wuld be eligible t seek a waiver fr unreduced pensin. As part f the GNWT s fiscal strategy, there were 142 uninized psitins eliminated ver the past tw years, resulting in 72 uninized emplyees receiving affected ntices. Thrugh the staff retentin prcesses set ut in the cllective agreement, plicies, and effrts f all invlved, nly 16 emplyees were laid ff. The current system is wrking effectively. Prepared by the GNWT Page 2

3 5. Term Emplyees Cnvert term emplyees t indeterminate status after 24 mnths in any particular bard, department r agency. Cnvert term emplyees t indeterminate emplyment status after 36 mnths in the same psitin. 6. Cntracting Out N cntracting ut f bargaining unit wrk. The GNWT must retain ability t cntract ut. In 2009 the Auditr General review f the GNWT s cntracting plicy said using cntracts helps the gvernment deliver its prgrams and services effectively and efficiently t meet its bjectives. 7. Emplyee Perfrmance Review and Files N supervisr shall enter data int the e perfrmance system n behalf f an emplyee. A supervisr shall nt add any cmments n behalf f the emplyee, withut the emplyee s cnsent. 8. Ultimate Remval Increase the perid t relcate frm 18 mnths frm the end f emplyee s emplyment t 24 mnths. Remve language limiting ne ultimate remval payment per family unit. A perid f 18 mnths t relcate after the ending f emplyment is reasnable. The GNWT des nt agree with changing the limit f ne ultimate remval payment per family unit. 9. A10 Health Care Prfessinal Develpment Initiative Include the Prfessinal Develpment Initiative (PDI) prgram in the cllective agreement at its current funding level. The PDI prgram des nt frm part f the cllective agreement and the GNWT must retain its managerial right t budget the prgram s funding levels. Prepared by the GNWT Page 3

4 10. Relief Emplyees The UNW has indicated it is nt interested in discussing the GNWT s prpsal t amend the definitin f relief emplyees. The UNW has indicated it wuld agree t deemed terminatin f emplyment if a relief emplyee has nt accepted wrk ver a 3 year perid, if the GNWT withdraws all f its ther prpsals regarding relief emplyees. The GNWT prpsed amending the definitin f relief emplyees t allw the use f relief emplyees acrss all departments. The GNWT will cnsider amending its prpsal t reflect the lngstanding practice f emplying relief emplyees in facilities that perate n a daily basis, nce the UNW cnfirms its psitin n the GNWT s ability t cntinue its lng standing practice f emplying casual emplyees scheduled t wrk n an as and when needed basis. In respnse t cncerns expressed by the UNW regarding the size and management f the relief emplyee list, the GNWT prpsed deemed terminatin f emplyment if the relief emplyee des nt accept wrk ver 6 mnths perid r after 12 mnths where n wrk is available. The GNWT als prpsed the ability t hire relief emplyees n a term basis t replace indeterminate relief emplyees n extended leave r t fill shrt term needs. Prepared by the GNWT Page 4

5 11. Mental Health The UNW respnded t the GNWT s prpsal with prpsing that jint steering and technical cmmittees be established and that the Natinal Standard fr Psychlgical Health and Safety in the Wrkplace shuld be implemented as the minimum standard. The GNWT prpsed a Memrandum f Understanding that wuld allw the GNWT and the UNW t wrk tgether t identify and implement practices that supprt and prmte mental health. The GNWT prpses the establishment f an jint cmmittee that wuld: Identify ways f reducing and eliminating the stigma t ften assciated with mental health issues; Identify ways t better cmmunicate the issues f metal health challenges in the wrkplace and existing tls available t supprt emplyees; Cnsider the unique challenges and barriers that impact mental health and services t emplyees f the GNWT, including the vast gegraphic area, small remte cmmunities, diverse cultures and the impact f Residential Schl experience n survivrs, their families and cmmunities; and Review practices, standards, and guidelines fr psychlgical health and safety implemented by ther jurisdictins and emplyers and implement elements that assist in prmting psychlgical healthy and safe wrkplaces. 12. Relcatin & Educatin Leave Return f Service Will agree t the GNWT s prpsal if it withdraws its relief emplyee prpsals and amends its prpsal t include n repayment f relcatin r educatin leave benefits if emplyee is rejected n prbatin r is terminated. The GNWT prpsed that emplyees must agree t stay in the emply f the GNWT fr at least 1 year in rder t receive relcatin expenses n initial appintment, and must return t wrk with the Public Service in the NWT fr a perid equal t their Educatin Leave. Shuld an emplyee nt fulfill their return f service cmmitment, except fr reasns f death, disability, lay ff, r rejectin n prbatin fr nn culpable reasns, they must repay the amunt received n a pr rated basis. Prepared by the GNWT Page 5

6 13. Scial Justice Fund GNWT t make matching cntributin f 2 cents per hur fr all hurs wrked. While the UNW s wrk related t their Scial Justice Fund supprts imprtant prjects, the GNWT believes that n ging incremental funding initiatives shuld be t the benefit f NWT residents. Nte: The abve summarizes the majr utstanding cllective bargaining issues. In material distributed by the UNW an additinal issue was identified as unreslved. The GNWT believes the parties have agreed n this matter: The GNWT has agreed that fr Cllege Educatrs there will be vertime at 1.5 fr any hurs in excess f 1000 hurs a year fr Adult Educatrs and that there will be an increase in Prfessinal Develpment frm $750 per year t $1500 per year. Prepared by the GNWT Page 6

Policy & Procedure Manual

Policy & Procedure Manual Plicy & Prcedure Manual Agency Vacatin Reviewed Date HR0701 Revised Date May 12, 2014 Apprved Date December 19, 1990 Intrductin The Bard f Health believes in prviding fair and equitable benefits t all