Bulletin
ICBC – I’m thinking of every member
March 19, 2020
To: MoveUP members at ICBC
Dear fellow members,
This afternoon, ICBC gave your union leadership an outline in principle of their plans for operations for next week. We are anxiously awaiting their announcements and are urging them to move as quickly as possible. We want to let you know that we are working very hard to get as many people as possible working in safer conditions, whether that’s at home, or in your workplace.
I have received many emails and messages from job stewards and members sharing their fears, anxieties and worries for themselves, their families, their coworkers and neighbours. I share your same worries and concerns and am doing all I can to get your comments, concerns, and suggestions to the right people at ICBC.
ICBC has already implemented many safety measures that, even a week ago, would be unheard of, such as cancelling all road tests and implementing screening and limits on people in driver licencing offices. This was done to protect our front-line public facing members, but there is still more that can be and must be done. We are being vigilant in bringing these issues to their attention. ICBC has actioned many of our recommendations and, for that, I am grateful. Thank you everyone for sharing your comments and concerns with us.
We have told ICBC that these are extraordinary times and that we are more than willing to do whatever it takes to make sure our members are safe and that your income continues. Nothing is off the table. We will look at every idea to make sure people are safely spaced and that they feel more secure. I know that right now many of you don’t feel that way.
As you have likely heard, hundreds of thousands of British Columbians, and millions of Canadians, are without work and therefore without income, literally over night. For public sector workers like us, we are some of the few still working and still earning a living. Income insecurity is something we aren’t facing right now and for that I am incredibly thankful. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful. In fact, we need to be more vigilant with safety and health precautions than ever before. I am counting on all of you to look after your own health right now and let us help those who are in dire circumstances.
At ICBC, we deal with tragedy every day. As insurance professionals, we go in and deal with suffering, pain, income insecurity, and worry every day. For B.C. citizens, our work and our dedication to British Columbians is as important, if not more so, than it ever was.
People with injury claims, who may have lost their job or are worried that will happen, will be calling on us to help them. They will need money to survive, to pay their rent or mortgage, to buy groceries or medications, to cover bills that they have, and to settle debts that they are carrying. There are many services we provide to motorists, many that people don’t even know about. I am so incredibly proud that all of you continue to care and help them in what ever capacity you can because, for many, your efforts could be the difference maker in many, many peoples’ lives.
Tomorrow, every one of you will be talking to your manager about how we can get more and more people working from home. That is ultimately our goal and, to their credit, ICBC has been working around the clock to figure out how they can get people out of these busy offices and working from home, if that is possible.
I am pleased to say that, as of today, we still do not have any reported cases of COVID-19 within the 5,000 MoveUP members and the 1,000 excluded and confidential staff at ICBC. This is in part due to your vigilance in staying safe, washing your hands regularly, staying home if you are sick, and working with one another to find creative ways to have physical distancing wherever possible.
Please stay safe and take care of one another.
I am thinking of every single one of you and want everyone to be healthy, safe and secure.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth
Vice-President