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MGEU responds to Province regarding involuntary job transfers

MGEU/NUPGE staff representative told that the changes would impact 30 vacant positions and 26 incumbents.

Winnipeg (25 June, 2013) - The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) recently became aware that several Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) members had been told by their employer that they would be facing involuntary job transfers or reclassifications.

Involuntary job transfers and placed in lower paid positions

A MGEU/NUPGE staff representative attended a meeting with MAFRI human resources staff and were told that the changes would impact 30 vacant positions and 26 incumbents.  As of June 30, 2013, some staff would have to transfer, and some would be placed in positions that do not yet have job descriptions, but that would result in pay reductions.

All affected will be “red-circled” (maintain an individual's pay rate that is above the established range maximum for that individual's classification. Employees' salaries may be red-circled when their positions are downward reclassified and their current salaries are above the range maximum for the new classification) for a period of time, subject to the approval of the Civil Service Commission.

Violation of collective agreement

Bill Anderson, MGEU/NUPGE Director of Negotiations, notified Provincial Labour Relations that the MGEU/NUPGE sees any action which results in a loss of pay, or reduction in classification, as a violation of the collective agreement.  As well, the employer may have breached the collective agreement in the manner in which they are interpreting the Change of Work Headquarters article.

As the official bargaining agent for these members, the MGEU/NUPGE should have also been notified of such changes before meeting with employees, which the union was not. It is the union’s position that all changes which result in reduced wages, must be considered as lay-offs and as such, also violate the contract’s No Lay-off Memorandum. Anderson also made clear that there will be a number of grievances filed as a result of the employer’s actions.

MGEU/NUPGE has promised to keep all affected MAFRI members updated as more information becomes available. 

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE