Policy Grievance Filed on Mandatory "Work Trials" 

Our union has filed a policy grievance challenging your employer's practice of requiring workers to complete mandatory "work trials" before they can access accommodation or exercise their rights under Article 13 of the collective agreement. Specifically, your employer – the Public Service Agency (PSA) – requires workers who are unable to perform the duties of their own occupation due to illness or injury to complete several week-long "rehabilitation trials" or "work trials" before they can be accommodated in any alternate position on an ongoing basis, or before they are allowed to access their rights under the collective agreement. 

Your bargaining committee maintains that this requirement is unreasonable and is in violation of the collective agreement. Not only does this policy create unfair barriers for employees with disabilities, but it may also be inconsistent with the PSA's obligations under the Human Rights Code, which requires individualized assessment and accommodation to the point of undue hardship.

As stated in the policy grievance, "The Work Trial Policy unreasonably and arbitrarily prevents employees who are capable of performing alternate employment, but who have not completed a work trial, from accessing their rights under Article 13."

Through this policy grievance, our union is seeking a declaration that the employer's mandatory work trial practice violates the collective agreement and human rights principles, and an order requiring the PSA to apply the relevant provisions of the agreement in a fair and reasonable manner and meet its duty to accommodate. 

We will keep you updated as this matter progresses. 

In solidarity, 

Your Public Service Bargaining Committee 
 
Paul Finch, President and Committee Chair
Maria Middlemiss, Treasurer
Dean Purdy, Component 1 Vice-President
Kusam Doal, Component 5 Vice-President
Judy Fox-McGuire, Component 6 Vice-President
Mona Dykes, Component 6 Second Representative
DJ Pohl, Component 12 Vice-President
Faith Johnston, Component 12 Second Representative 
Sebastian Kallos, Component 20 Vice-President
Linsay Buss, Lead Negotiator 
Larisa Mills, Staff Representative
Sumiko Marshall, Support Staff

UWU/MoveUP