Bulletin
CNS – Section 54 Notice
May 10, 2022
To: All MoveUP Members at Canadian Northern Shield
| The Employer has served the Union a Section 54 notice today, May 10th 2022. In it, the Employer has noted they intend to wind down the business at CNS due to restructuring organization wide. They have communicated that they intend the winddown to lead to total workforce reduction starting in January 2023. You can find a copy of the section 54 notice here.
What is a Section 54 notice? Section 54 of the Code currently requires that employers provide at least 60 days of notice to a union if it intends to introduce a “measure, policy, practice or change that affects the terms, conditions or security of employment of a significant number of employees.” Section 54 requires the Parties to discuss an adjustment plan. The Code does not currently require that Parties agree to an adjustment plan. Once the Parties discuss, either can apply to the Mediation Division of the Labour Relations Board for the appointment of a mediator to assist with development of an adjustment plan where one is not reached. Following mediation, the named mediator may make recommendations for terms of an adjustment plan, if needed. What are the next steps? We will be meeting with the Employer in the coming weeks, with the first meeting currently scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30 to discuss the section 54 notice, how it impacts you, and to discuss consideration of alternatives to the proposed measure, policy, practice or change, including amendment of provisions in the collective agreement such as enhanced severance packages and\or pension adjustments. This will be a long process, but we’ll keep you updated as information becomes available and as we can continue our discussions with the Employer. You can reach me at nbeausoleil@moveutogether.ca, or at 778 580 5191. In solidarity Nathan Beausoleil, Union Representative |