Bulletin
BCH & Powertech – Return to Work – Flexible Work Model (April 11, 2022) and Vaccination Mandate Policy Update
March 28, 2022
To: All MoveUP members at BCH & Powertech
Your union met with the employer last week where we were advised that they were preparing to move towards a return to work under their flexible work model. This model has been held in abeyance pending the lifting of all COVID restrictions. As the provincial health officer has now changed protocols and lifted restrictions as of April 8, 2022, it has allowed the ability for your employer to implement this model, beginning on Monday, April 11, 2022.
During the discussion, your union asked the employer if they would contemplate delaying the return to work until after the Easter long weekend, to be able to provide the membership with a longer notice period. Unfortunately, they did not agree to our suggestion. However, they did advise that they would be open to a reasonable request for delay based on mitigating circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. We suggest that if you have such a request, that you contact your manager as soon as possible so that they can review and process your request.
We understand that this may be a difficult time for some of you, but we also know that this move back to the office was imminent. The vaccination mandate policy remains in place, although it has been adjusted to remove the threat of termination (as per the award from Arbitrator Somjen in response to the IBEW258’s policy grievance). The updated policy should be posted on your hydroweb intranet. MoveUP’s policy grievance on the mandate will be moving forward to be heard by Arbitrator Somjen on May 12, 13, and 18-20, 2022.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact a job steward, or reach out to your union representative.
In solidarity,
Mike Novak, Union Representative
April Young, Union Representative
Javed Saheb, Union Representative
Ronnie Ho, Union Representative
Natalie Hoedel, Union Representative
Cheryl Popeniuk, Senior Union Representative