Social Club

The Elk Falls social club is having a get together for past and present members.
It will be a Pizza night on Oct 16th from 5-7pm at the Campbell River Curling Club.

Deadline looming for applications for CDTrust money…

There has been a change to the deadline to apply for the BC Government’s Community Development Trust Tuition Assistance program for forestry workers to September 30th, 2010. Previously I believe the deadline was December 31, but it now states on their website that this has changed “due to a high number of applications received”.
If you haven’t already applied, you don’t have much more time available to do so.

The website which has all the information on how to apply is http://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/index.htm

Severance and retirement

As most of you are aware we have been having some disagreements with the company on issues relating to severance. The one we get asked the most about is how severing your employment affects your retirement.
The companies recently took the position that people severing as a result of the permanent mill closure would no longer be entitled to get both severance and retirees benefits. So, if you’re older than age 55 and wish to take your severance, they will no longer pay your basic or extended medical, nor will they allow you to get pop-up bridging (when you are 60 yrs old). Otherwise you can choose to just quit and not take your severance and then you will receive them both.
We had hoped that we could work this issue out before members had to choose on Sept 10th. Unfortunately that has not been the case and members finding themselves in that situation will have to use their best judgment in deciding which option to take. We have already grieved this issue, but it will be some time before it is in front of an arbitrator. If you need more information call the office and we will answer your questions as best we can.

Grievance updates

Yesterday, we traveled to Nanaimo for discussions with the Company’s payroll department to ensure we had a common understanding of the recent arbitration rulings and of how they plan on implementing the awards.

1) Supplemental Vacations – As per the award, rather than carve out the period of time people were on layoff, the Company has now updated members supplemental vacation banks, crediting them for all completed years since their hire date. This means members (including those who’ve already severed) will receive their full supplemental entitlement.

2) Qualifying for Floating Holidays while on layoff – We came to an agreement that all Elk Falls members will be paid for 5 floaters for the 2009 contract year. Laid off member will not receive payment for any floaters for the 2010 contract year unless they worked hours in that year. If they did work in 2010, they will get 1 floater as a minimum and then additional floaters for every 200 hours worked (up to the maximum of 5 floaters)

3) Rate of pay for time off taken while on layoff – The company will adjust the hourly rates paid for annual vacations, banked vacations and floaters taken after May 1, 2009 from base rate to the regular rate people held before the layoff began. Supplemental vacation will be adjusted to the pre layoff rate of pay plus any wage increases that were to have come into effect before the supplemental vacations were taken.

As a result of these changes many members are owed money and the time office is going to start to calculate the exact amounts once the permanent mill closure severance payments have been processed. Unfortunately that means the adjustments won’t be completed in time to be included on members final pay.The expectation is that all adjustments calculations will be completed, and any outstanding monies owed will be paid by October 31st. Members that haven’t severed as of this week will have the funds electronically deposited as normal and for all other members the company will have to give them a cheque as they have already deleted your banking information from their system. For any members that have, or plan on relocating – Please ensure the Company has your current contact information, not only so they can send you the cheque but also so you will receive your T4 at the end of the year.

Some of you indicated that you want to see the Arbitration Awards – Here they are – Ian

Award on Severance Retro-activity
Award on Qualifying for Floaters, Supplemental, and W/I
Award on Rate of Pay while on Layoff