May 25, 2010 at 12:00 PM
As you have heard, the company [GTAA] has recently issued lay-off / appointment notices for employees who are impacted by the Business Transformation Project in Facilities and Operations and Customer Experience. Below are a number of answers to the frequently asked questions originating from the membership. The Q and A coupled with the Membership meetings will hopefully clarify a number of import issues for you.
| Q1 : Does the 90 day layoff notification apply to when the union was advised or when I receive my letter? |
| The 90 day layoff notification begins as of May 13, 2010. |
| Q2 : Can a person with seniority refuse an appointment and exercise bumping rights instead? |
| If an employee refuses appointment, their only options would be recall or severance. |
| Q3 : If a vacancy occurs for the newly created position for which I did not have enough seniority to be appointed to, can I go back to that position? |
| Not necessarily. The GTAA would explore the recall list, and if this didn’t fill the position, then it would be posted. |
| Q4 : If someone is on Maternity leave, can they be laid off? |
| They will be notified of the layoff that will take place at the end of their Maternity leave. |
| Q5 : What will happen with the top up payback for those on Maternity Leave? Will they have to payback the top up if they get laid off? |
| These situations will be dealt with on a case by case basis in accordance with Article 24:02 3 (a) of the Collective Agreement. The Collective Agreement provides for the recovery of advanced top up benefits except for in cases of involuntary separation or medical disability. |
| Q6 : What is the seniority date for former TBI employees? |
| As agreed upon between the parties, the seniority date would be their start date with the company including TBI and its predecessors. |
| Q7 : What is the seniority date for former New Inclusions from 2008? |
| As agreed upon between the parties, the seniority date would be the employees’ start date with the company. |
| Q8 : What is the seniority date for former employees who have acted in Management positions for more than three (3) months? |
| The seniority date will be calculated as per Articles 15:04 and 15:05. |
| Q9 : Will those being laid off be offered counseling and support to write resumes etc? |
| Group sessions will be conducted on resume writing and interview skills. One-on-one individual counseling sessions will also be available. |
| Q10 : If an affected employee accepts an appointment to a lower band position, are they salary protected or red circled? |
| Salary protected as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. |
| Q11 : Can someone who was appointed to a position be bumped? |
| Q12 : If the position that I am appointed to has a formal checkout process and I am not successful do I have the option to bump? |
| Q13 : If I am appointed to a newly created position, can I still apply for the TAR position? |
| Q14 : When will the training plan commence? |
| The GTAA is in the process of developing the training plans and is aiming to have them completed as soon as possible. |
| Q15 : If I haven’t been appointed to a position and have selected to displace another employee, will I be responsible for conducting the training for the newly created positions? |
| Q16 : What was taken into account when employees were appointed into the newly created positions? |
| Incumbent rights, seniority, and the duties, skills and qualifications of the employees’ substantive position which were held in comparison to the newly created positions. |
| Q17 : May I choose the position that I am interested in bumping? |
| All employees who make an election to displace another employee will meet with the Union and Employer to review position(s) for which he/she will be able to meet the threshold requirements within the three (3) months training program. |
| Q18 : Will the JEC appeals and grievances be dealt with prior to displacements? |
| The intent is to have all the JEC appeals and grievances resolved prior to displacements. There are currently dates scheduled in June for the parties to meet and review some of the appeals. |
| Q19 : If I would have been appointed to a newly created position at a higher band level for which I did not have enough seniority, can I be recalled to that position? |
| Q20 : What is the priority once the individuals are placed on a recall list? |
| The Employer will first take into consideration seniority and whether the individual can meet the threshold requirements for the position within a three (3) month training period. |
| Q21 : When will bumping begin? |
| Meetings will commence as early as July for those impacted to identify positions which the employee may be able to bump and to afford the sixty (60) days notice to the incumbent of the position bumped. The GTAA does not foresee any bumping to take place prior to October 1, 2010, as this will be contingent upon the training requirements of the newly created positions. |
| Q22 : Will I still be able to take any leave that I have previously requested? |
| Efforts will be made to ensure that all pre-approved leaves are honoured. |
If you require further clarification, please do not hesitate tocontact the union office at (416) 776-3103.
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee
Joel Fournier, CAW National Representative
Ashley Watkins, CAW Local 2002 Executive Assistant - East
Jeff Hatt, Chairperson / Bargaining Chairperson
Todd M Browne, Bargaining Rep
Mark DaSilva, Bargaining Rep
Antonia Grabowski, Bargaining Rep
Hafeez Hussain, Bargaining Rep
Pauline Leloudas, Bargaining Rep
Fred Romolo, Bargaining Rep
Lars Sorensen, Bargaining Rep
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Watkins, Executive Assistant, East