Bulletin
ICBC Settlement Competitions
March 6, 2019
To: All MoveUP members at ICBC
It seems each year the ‘settlement competition’ comes back in some iteration or another. This year has been no different. We’ll be blunt. We consider them insulting, intimidating and inappropriate to every one of the hardworking employees at ICBC.
We know that you struggle under unreasonable workloads and seemingly ever-increasing demands. And yet these competitions continue. Back in 2016, the corporation referred to an “unprecedented and challenging task ahead” and the need to “push ourselves to achieve unprecedented results”. In 2019, it’s the “race to the bottom.” Regardless of what they call these competitions, we call all of them offensive.
Let’s be clear. You already do exactly what is asked by these competitions every time you report to work. You already push yourselves to achieve unprecedented results every day, because unprecedented results have become the every-day demand from your employer. To suggest anything different implies that you are not working to your full potential, which we know is completely false.
Year after year, the employer raises targets and year after year, members push themselves harder and harder to meet the managers’ demands. Frankly, ICBC wants you to run a marathon but expects it done at the pace of a sprint. With the latest ‘settlement challenge’ the corporation pits groups of employees against one another, puts unnecessary pressures on each of you, and aims to squeeze you even harder. Recognition is certainly due, but it is due for all of our members as you work to make the corporation a success every single day of your career.
This is why your union does not support any settlement challenges and encourages our members to continue to work with their usual integrity but not at the risk of your health. With so many changes coming down the pipe right now, it is more critical than ever that you look after your own health first and foremost.
Unpaid overtime is just one of the consequences of these ‘challenges.’ We know from our recent survey, that the top reasons people are working unpaid overtime is to try and keep up with the already crushing pile of work at their desk and from the pressure to perform put on them by their managers. The settlement challenges just ramp up the instances for staff to work through their breaks and unpaid OT. This just has to stop. You have the right to take your breaks, get away from your desk and you should stop working unpaid overtime immediately. ** Your health depends on it. If there is so much work that you need to work more to complete it, discuss it with your manager and be sure you get paid. If they won’t approve the pay, you should not be working the extra hours for free. Turn off the computer and go home. (If you believe a violation of the collective agreement is taking place as a result of efforts to meet the corporation’s productivity demands, please contact your area job steward with specifics of the violation.)
On behalf of MoveUP staff and officers, we want to thank you for your commitment to the citizens of BC and to recognize that you work incredibly hard every day.
** We won a very significant grievance on the chronic unpaid overtime at ICBC. This decision requires ICBC to pay each of you OT, whether it is approved or not.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth, Vice-President
Kevin Smyth, Senior Union Representative
Kelly Quinn, Union Representative
Trevor Hansen, Union Representative
Anny Chen, Union Representative