1. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Labour Agreement?
2014- ?
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

2. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Today’s Agenda
Asked to give the conference delegates our opinion on what they will be faced with in 2014:
Likely Union demands ?
Subject to Coastal USW process.
Legislated increases
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

3. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Coast
Most agreements expire midnight June 14, 2014
Notice to bargain from the Union: Feb 15, 2014
Bargain on your Own
Bargain as part of a group
“Me Too” to one of the Agreements
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

4. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Interior“Pattern”
5 year agreement.
3%, 2%, 2½%, 2 ½%, 3% general wage increases.
The employer loaded costs will rise by about $8.53/hr. per employee over the 5 year contract.
Average hourly rate goes from $30.18 to $35.53 over the life of the agreement.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

5. Interior “Pattern”(cont’d)
Cash Bonuses in years 1,3,4 and 5.
Amounts are $400 (upon ratification),$1000, $1000 and $1000.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

6. Interior “Pattern”(cont’d)
Tradesman increase in each year: ($0.50/hr.X 5 years)—to be applied before the annual percentage increase!
Average tradesman rate goes from $34.70/hr. to $42.14 over the life of the agreement (21% increase).
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

7. Interior “Pattern”(cont’d)
Apprentices living out and commuting allowances increased to: Doubled to $40/280 week Mileage doubled to ¢.50 KM 2nd round trip after 6 week outside community
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

8. Interior “Pattern”(cont’d)
Pension Plan Contribution increases starting in 2014.
Employer contribution + $1/hour to $3.675 employee hour worked.
Employee contribution + $0.60/hour to $2.225/employee hour worked.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

9. Interior “Pattern”(cont’d)
Benefit Plan Improvements:
Weekly Indemnity rate to be increased by $100/week.
Vision care increased to $400/employee, and to include eye exams and laser eye surgery.
Orthodontic lifetime max increased to $4,000.
EHC lifetime limit increased to $300,000.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

10. Interior “Pattern”(cont’d)
Restrictive language on Chargehands
Restrictive language on trades (“only can perform work within the scope of their trades training or upgrade training”)
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

11. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Interior “Pattern”
Disciplinary Records
Discipline record remains on employees file for only 24 months (we currently allow discipline to remain on record for 5 years.)
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

12. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Interior “Pattern”
Family Day becomes a regular Statutory Holiday
Employer contribution to Union’s Education Fund increases by 3 cents per hour (taking it to 8 cents/hour)
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

13. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Interior “Pattern”
Shift scheduling: 4-10 Monday-Friday Split Shifts to be paid a $0.75/hr. premium
Scaler Premium: Log Scaler (with valid scaling licence) to be paid $0.50/hr. premium.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

14. Costing the “Interior Pattern”
Total average labour costs to rise from existing $48.92 to $57.17 by the last year of a five (5) year agreements. Logging is $3.00 more, while manufacturing is $2.00 less.
This represents an annual average increase of 3.4%, or 16.8% over the life of the agreement.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

15. Other Employer Costs are rising too
Legislated payroll burdens including BC Medical premiums, CPP, EI and WCB contribution costs will continue to increase year over year, likely averaging 4% annually.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

16. Coastal Opportunity from the Interior “Pattern”
Northern Interior Extended Health Plan is based on “Generic/Low Cost Alternative Medications”.
Coastal Plan currently does not have this cost-control restriction
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

17. Questions on the “Pattern”
Does USW want a 5-year Coastal deal or a ? yr. deal to permit 2018 province-wide negotiations?
Will USW recognize the need for some differences for the Coastal Industry?
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

18. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Possible Coast Items
Changes to Woodland Letter.
USW access to Non Union operators.
Collection of Union Dues.
Collection of Benefit Plan Premium's.
Other ??
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

19. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Will 2014 Be Different than 2010 ?
Likely not. The USW will focus on the largest company.
Interior and Coastal bargaining in different years.
Employers structured same as 2010; there may be many different agreements !)
USW Strategy looks different but union politics seems the same!
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

20. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Right to Communicate
LR Code Sec 8: “Subject to regulations, a person has the freedom to express his or her views on any matter, including matters relating to an employer, a trade union, or the representation of employees by a trade union, provided that person does not use intimidation or coercion”.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

21. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Communication Tips
Don’t negotiate with your employees !
Be consistent in your storyline. (Make sure your employees understand your Company situation).
Let employees draw their own conclusion.
Do not threaten or intimidate.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

22. What if you are bargaining on your own?
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

23. Your Legal Requirement to Bargain
Companies with a unionized workforce have a right and responsibility by law to bargain a collective agreement with the union.
Labour Relations Code of BC ,Section 11(1): ”A trade union or employer must not fail or refuse to bargain in good faith in British Columbia and to make every reasonable effort to conclude a collective agreement.”
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

24. “Bargaining in Good Faith”
Includes recognizing the union as the exclusive bargaining agent for your employees:you cannot negotiate with employees directly!
Other examples of bad faith bargaining:
refusing to meet,negotiators lacking authority to settle,attempting to negotiate illegal issues,failure to disclose pertinent information,prolonging negotiations
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

25. Required Steps for Bargaining
Written notice to commence bargaining (at any time within 4 months immediately preceding expiry date of agreement )
Commence bargaining in good faith within 10 days of date of notice.
Make every reasonable effort to conclude an agreement.
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.

26. FIR Labour Relations Ltd.
Questions
FIR Labour Relations Ltd.