Bulletin
BC Transit – COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy Update
March 15, 2022
To: All MoveUP Members at BC Transit
Your union was advised late last week that the employer is reviewing its previously stated intention to terminate employees who have not complied with the vaccination policy. Earlier the employer had advised your union that it would be terminating employees on March 31st.
As most are aware MoveUP did not oppose the vaccine mandate in general as we considered it to be a reasonable strategy for the employer to fulfill the requirement to provide a safe work environment. A number of arbitration decisions across the country subsequently confirmed that vaccine mandates were reasonable. However, we did raise a grievance to address any nuances of the policy that could be problematic.
At this point we have been advised that no one will be terminated on March 31st as a consequence of not complying with the vaccine mandate policy. We have not been provided with any information regarding the future of the policy or any other updates. The message from the employer has consistently been that they are trying to balance the provincial health orders with the requirement to provide a safe workplace.
Your union did advise the employer that we would be grieving any terminations that occurred as a result of our members not providing proof of vaccination. We would not consider such terminations to be reasonable and particularly so after such a short period between the implementation of the policy and any terminations.
We are all hoping that we are nearing the end of the pandemic and that we will never have to deal with these issues again. Until we are sure we are at that point it will be important to continue to work through the unique issues that are arising.
In Solidarity,
Shawn Lakusta, Union Representative