Update on placement of provincial public service workers affected by budget cuts

Ministry Article 29 committees and the Joint Workforce Adjustment Steering Committee (JWASC) continue to meet on a regular basis to coordinate the placement activity of public service members impacted by the Liberal government's job cuts.

The ministries initially began issuing notices impacting BCGEU members in early September of last year, and have followed with two more rounds of cuts as follows:

Round 1 - September 2009: 203 jobs cut – 105 BCGEU/PEA and 98 exclusions

Round 2 - January 2010: 233 jobs cut – 147 BCGEU/PEA and 86 exclusions

Round 3 - April 2010: 294 jobs cut – 251 BCGEU/PEA and 43 exclusions

Total to date: 730 public service jobs have been eliminated

To put these numbers into context, this year’s provincial budget stated the public service would be reduced by 3,500 positions over three years.

Based on what the government has said, 1,600 of these 3,500 jobs will be subject to workforce adjustment over the three-year period. The 730 jobs cut so far are less than half of what the Liberals promised they will "impact" over the next three years.

About 870 more employees are slated to see their jobs eliminated over the next three years. These public service job cuts are being made even though B.C. has one of the leanest public services measured on a per capita basis, in all of Canada.

Of the total number of public service jobs which have been cut so far, BCGEU members make up the majority – a total of 536 members have received notice under Article 13.1 of the collective agreement. Article 13.1 starts the placement process for members with an initial 90-day period to effect voluntary options.

Ministry Article 29 Committees and JWASC, have the responsibility to oversee the placement provisions of the collective agreement. The main activities for staff and members on Article 29 committees includes obtaining seniority and vacancy lists, verifying appropriateness of placements, securing severance settlements, and communicating with impacted members.

Through the work of these committees, voluntary solutions have been found as follows:

85 notices have been rescinded;
119 members placed in alternate jobs, and,
44 members left government – severance, resignations etc.

A total of 288 members remain in various stages of the placement process as of the beginning of May. We anticipate that the Ministry of Forests will impact more BCGEU members next month.

The ratification of the terms of the 15th master agreement last week provide important improvements in rights and options to maximize placement opportunities for all of these impacted employees.

Members who have questions about their own rights and options should contact a union representative on your ministry's Article 29 Committee.

We will continue to update members on the status of the placement process as events change.

In Solidarity,

BCGEU Joint Workforce Adjustment Steering Committee (JWASC) Members
Lori Joaquin Administrative Services Component 12
Byron Goerz, ETO Component 20
Michael Eso, Staff Representative