BCGEU to assist aquaculture workers affected by change in jurisdiction

Several BCGEU members working for the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands in aquaculture regulation in Courtenay were told today that their positions will not be part of a new organizational structure that will take effect on April 1, 2011. The new structure flows from a 2009 B.C. Supreme Court ruling that marine finfish aquaculture on the coast of B.C. is a matter of federal, not provincial, jurisdiction.

This morning, representatives from the ministry presented aquaculture workers with a new organizational chart for the Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch. Twelve workers are not included in the new organization; 10 are B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) members working in Courtenay, two are PEA members.

"These types of changes are very stressful for workers," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker, . "But fortunately this isn't the end of the road for affected members."

Redundancy notices have not been issued to affected members. The ministry has indicated that it will work with affected members to find new job placements within Agriculture and Lands, or in other ministries. Members who are not placed before November 2010 may face workforce adjustment at that time.

During workforce adjustment, members are protected by employment security provisions under the Master collective agreement, which establish a job placement process with timelines and union oversight, and ensure that seniority is a determining factor in placement priority. Every impacted member must receive at least one reasonable offer of employment in government.

The BCGEU will work with the ministry to find job placements for affected members, while continuing to push for a formal transfer agreement between the provincial and federal governments.

"We've said before that the fairest and most sensible way forward is for Ottawa to agree to a formal employee transfer process, so provincial aquaculture workers have the option of moving to the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans," says Walker. "We've successfully negotiated these types of agreements before, and we will continue to insist on a formal transfer for aquaculture workers."

To date, the federal government has declined to negotiate a former employee transfer agreement with the province, saying that new federal aquaculture positions will go to open competition.

Whether a formal transfer agreement is negotiated or not, the union's top priority will be to ensure that affected members are provided with fair and suitable employment options.