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All BCGEU Members at Social Development & Poverty Reduction: Employer's use of "No Steward Letters" - BCGEU

Published on October 16, 2017

The Social Development and Poverty Reduction Article 29 Joint Labour Management Committee has agreed that the Employer's use of the "No Steward" letter shall stop.

 

It had been brought to the committee's attention that the Employer had, in some instances, been asking BCGEU members (where the member did not wish to have a steward attend with them) to sign a waiver foregoing their right to have a steward present at a disciplinary meeting.

 

The committee agreed that this practice should cease immediately.

 

All members who are required to attend a meeting called by the Employer that may be disciplinary, have the right to have a steward, of their choosing, attend those meetings with them. Should you be notified that you are required to attend a meeting that may be disciplinary please contact your local steward immediately. If you do not know who your steward is please contact your local BCGEU office for assistance in locating a steward.

 

The right to a steward at a disciplinary meeting can be found in the Public Service Collective Agreement at Article 10.8, which we have listed below for your information.

 

10.8 Right to Have Steward Present

(a)                An employee shall have the right to have their steward present at any discussion with supervisory personnel which the employee believes might be the basis of disciplinary action. Where a supervisor intends to interview an employee for disciplinary purposes, the supervisor shall make every effort to notify the employee in advance of the purpose of the interview in order that the employee may contact their steward, providing that this does not result in an undue delay of the appropriate action being taken. This clause shall not apply to those discussions that are of an operational nature and do not involve disciplinary action.

(b)                A steward shall have the right to consult with a staff representative of the Union and to have a local union representative present at any discussion with supervisory personnel which the steward believes might be the basis of disciplinary action against the steward, providing that this does not result in an undue delay of the appropriate action being taken.

 

 

Download PDF of notice here