Bulletin
ICBC disrespects your workload concerns; abruptly leaves mediation
April 24, 2025
To: All MoveUP Members at ICBC
We wanted to provide all ICBC members with an update regarding our discussions with your employer on workload concerns for Claims Adjusters. We had hoped to provide a positive update to you but unfortunately ICBC’s recent act of disrespect during mediation has left us disappointed and, quite frankly, insulted.
ICBC abruptly left mediation without any meaningful dialogue
Yesterday, Union Representative Sara Colliss, Workload Coordinator Herbert Magana, and Workload Committee Chair Missy Besanger, participated in mediation at the Labour Relations Board.
This came because we filed for expedited arbitration under Section 104 of the Labour Relations Code. Your union and ICBC mutually agreed to participate in mediation, even though our previous attempts to settle this dispute had been declined by ICBC.
We came to the negotiation with many ideas on how to settle the grievance, including making changes to the recommendations previously submitted, striking an agreement with your employer on a process for voting on recommendations, and striking an agreement with your employer on what may constitute “pertinent” disclosure of workload standards.
Rather than engage in these discussions, ICBC abruptly left the call after three hours of mediation.
It has become clear to us that ICBC had no intention of engaging in meaningful dialogue to reach a negotiated settlement. In fact, they did not even send anyone with any authority to do so. Their attendance was strictly performative in nature.
Where do we go from here?
We will be moving forward again with expedited arbitration, with the assistance of the Labour Relations Board. Part of this process requires the disclosure of documents which ICBC has protested to provide, but it is our goal to press forward to get what we need because the collective agreement clearly states we are entitled to them.
We will continue to advocate for our members and force ICBC to engage in meaningful dialogue to listen to your concerns. We will provide further updates to you as this matter progresses.
Background information
- A workload complaint was filed on October 21, 2024, for the Claims Adjuster position.
- The Workload Committee, including representatives from your union and the employer, has met every two weeks the past six months to discuss recommendations on how to address the workload adjusters.
- ICBC has been unwilling to provide disclosure of productivity and volume standards as required by LOU #18 of your collective agreement.
- ICBC’s committee representatives have not generated any recommendations in six months of meetings.
- ICBC announced and rolled out the new Auto Claims Model (ACM) on February 9, 2025, amid this workload complaint, making the situation more urgent.
- Our union-appointed committee members have focused recommendations to support employees in the transition to the ACM, but every recommendation we have put forward has been voted down by the management representatives.
- The Workload Committee put forward 17 recommendations to the Operational Leadership Team in a letter on January 30, 2025. ICBC’s Employee Relations followed up with a meeting involving Senior Union Representative Trevor Hansen, Vice-President Dimitri Ossinsky, and Union Representative Sara Colliss, where they berated the union for the “tone and tenor” of the letter and accused the union of being “offensive.” How can suggestions to improve your workload concerns be offensive?
Questions or concerns
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Union Representative Sara Colliss at scolliss@moveuptogether.ca.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
In solidarity,
Herbert Magana, Workload Coordinator
Sara Colliss, Union Representative
Dimitri Ossinsky, Vice-President
Missy Besanger, Workload Committee Chair
Surinder Cheema, Committee Member
Rajeev Kochhar, Committee Member
Feroz Shah, Alternate Committee Member
