BCGEU discusses workforce adjustments with Ministry of Forests & Range

Union still waiting for real details

The union met in a re-scheduled meeting with the Ministry of Forests & Range this week to discuss ongoing and upcoming workforce adjustments.

The 2010 provincial budget cut funding for resource management ministries, with a letter from the Deputy Minister of Forests and Range indicating that approximately 160 positions could be affected in the near future. There may also be further impacts in the Integrated Land Management Bureau, and the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum.

The Ministry of Forests and Range was unable to provide further details on the specific impact to member positions, but has committed to meeting with the union weekly. The Ministry also confirmed that the union will be consulted about any substantial re-organization that results in relocations or redundancies.

The changes are budget-driven, and the Ministry is responsible for achieving funding cut targets in the 2010/2011 fiscal year - meaning that the longer the Ministry waits to make workforce adjustments, the deeper the redundancy cuts will be in FTE terms. There is no set announcement date at this time.

The union and Ministry also reviewed the ongoing placement activities for members impacted in the January 2010 round of redundancy notices. More than half of those members are still seeking a resolution, and the union is working to ensure they find placements.

There is some internal pressure on the Ministry to resolve situations before March 31, the end of the current fiscal year. However, it is important to remember that members are in a 90 day informal process to find placements. If you are impacted and are feeling pressured to make a decision before you are ready and before the end of the 90 day period, please contact the BCGEU's Article 29 committee.

The Ministry has also committed to work with the union on clarifying seniority blocks in the resource Ministries, especially as related to recent functional and reporting changes. However, the Ministry has yet to provide accurate proposals for new blocks to the union.

The next joint meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 24, 2010.