Ministry of Forests and Range cancels meeting with union to discuss workforce adjustments

The BCGEU was scheduled to meet with Ministry of Forests and Range representatives today to discuss new workforce adjustment plans announced by the Deputy Minister. However, the ministry cancelled the meeting at the eleventh hour, citing a scheduling conflict.

The Article 29 joint committees have been meeting on a regular basis to discuss recent workforce adjustment activity - with redundancy notices being issued to more than 20 BCGEU members in January 2010, and to 16 members in September 2009.

A recent blog message from the Deputy Minister outlines that workforce adjustments affecting approximately 160 positions may be forthcoming, along with additional adjustments for the Ministry's Integrated Land Management Bureau.

The Ministry is obliged to consult with the union through the Ministry Article 29 Joint Committee before moving forward on any workforce adjustment plans.
"Communities across B.C. rely on our members to protect our forests, support industry, and adapt forest management practices to fight climate change," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker.

"These members deserve respect, but turbulent changes in the Ministry are eroding certainty, for them and the important work they perform. The government needs to clarify how these changes will affect our members' lives and careers."

This is a time of dramatic change for BCGEU members. The Ministry is realigning reporting relationships, and issued a document in February outlining the expected changes.
"We are concerned about the potential for future layoffs, as well as the impact on workload, responsibility and direction for those remaining members in a smaller Ministry," says Walker. "We are going to make sure that our members' rights under the collective agreement are enforced through this period of change."

The union is trying to re-schedule the Article 29 committee meeting at the earliest opportunity. Look for updates by e-mail, and on the BCGEU web site (www.bcgeu.ca ). Make sure we have your current e-mail address by submitting changes at: http://www.bcgeu.ca/email .