Bulletin
Coast Mountain Bus – Action on Shift Schedule Changes
January 5, 2021
To: All MoveUP members at Coast Mountain Bus
A remarkable number of MoveUP members in Customer Information have expressed concerns about the shift schedule change. Members are raising serious issues about the impact on their lives and families. We also are hearing about significant issues about inadequate morning coverage when call volumes are highest, inadequate coverage for breaks, not enough time at the start of shifts, and not enough time for members to make adjustments to their personal schedules. Many of these issues could be avoided with more time and proper consultation.
MoveUP has asked the company to delay the implementation of the new schedule. More time is needed for consultation about the proposed schedule. More time is needed to consider requests for individual accommodations. More time is needed to give MoveUP members a chance to adjust their lives to significant changes in their working hours. More time is needed because CI staff have been dealing with incredible stress through the pandemic and the cyber-attack and now is the wrong time for the company to be asking for more sacrifices.
While your union advocates for a fair and reasonable approach, action by members will help change how the company implements the shift changes. All MoveUP members in Customer Information are asked to do the following:
Express your concerns to management. Lend your voice to the concerns already raised. Make sure management knows the problems you anticipate with the new schedule and the impact it will have on you, your family, and your co-workers. Share your messages and the responses by management with your union.
Request accommodations if you need them. Accommodations may be required for a variety of reasons, most commonly due to family responsibilities and health issues. If an employee has considered all their alternatives and can demonstrate that there are shifts they cannot work because of their health, family obligations, or other protected grounds, the company has to work with the individual and with the union on a schedule that meets their needs. If you need an accommodation, explain your needs to management and share them along with any reply from management with your union.
Continue to be respectful. Management has heard a lot about these changes already, and many members are upset or even angry. Everyone is responsible for maintaining a respectful workplace regardless of the issues they are facing. Remaining respectful also keeps the focus on the real problems.
Show your solidarity. Lend your support for MoveUP’s advocacy by showing this issue is important to you. All MoveUP members in Customer Information are asked to change their MS Teams profile picture to the MoveUP logo. Changing your logo will be a visible sign of support for your union’s call for postponing the schedule change to allow time for consultation, accommodation, and adjustment. A copy of the logo for this purpose is here. Instructions on changing your profile picture are here: Change your profile picture in Teams – Office Support (microsoft.com).
In Solidarity,
Christy Slusarenko, Vice-President of Combined Units
Paul Reniers, Director, Operational Strategy, on behalf of
Parm Sandhar, Union Representative