Technological Change
Dealing with technological change in the workplace.
Purpose#
- protecting members/workers from the negative impacts of the implementation of new technologies in the workplace.
- To allow workers the ability to understand new technologies and their impacts before and during their implementation.
Example Language#
Suncor & Unifor 707a#
In the event of a plant closure, partial plant closure, technological change or change of methods or facilities which will involve a permanent workforce reduction of employees, the company shall give the union not less than six (6) months advance notice or statutory notice, whichever is greater, for such change or closure.
After providing such notice, the parties will meet to consider all available methods to facilitate the planned workforce reductions through attrition. If these considerations fail to provide such workforce reduction within the notice period specified above or in circumstances where attrition is not an appropriate method of providing the required reduction, the parties will discuss other methods of reducing the workforce and minimizing the negative impact on employees affected.
The company shall train or retrain employees subject to layoff for job vacancies which exist at that time provided the employees have the basic qualification required for the job vacancy.
In the event that employees are downgraded solely due to a plant closure, partial plant closure, technological change or change of methods or facilities, rate protection will be provided as follows:
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Employees who remain within their line of progression will have their existing rate maintained until the classification in which they are placed equals the protected rate.
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Employees who are placed outside their line of progression will have their existing rate protected for one year.
To qualify for the above rate protection, employees must:
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Successfully complete any training, retraining program to which they are assigned.
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Perform work to which they are assigned and qualified to perform.
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Use normal bidding procedures whenever available to return to equal or better than their former classification.
Employees facing layoff as a result of plant closure, partial plant closure, technological change or change of methods or facilities, having the basic qualifications may be considered for transfer to another Unifor-represented Suncor site.
Transferred employees will be entitled to rate protection provided the protected rate in their classification is no greater than the corresponding classification of the new location.
Enbridge Gas & Unifor 999#
20.02 Technological Change
a) As necessary, from time to time, the Company will discuss with the Union, matters relating to technological change in order to make the union aware of the Company’s plans in these areas one month in advance, where practical, of implementing such plans. The Company will also grant the union the opportunity to make management aware of any concerns that the union or the unionized employees may have in relation to such changes.
b) A Committee comprised of representatives from STO and Management will meet as necessary from time to time to discuss matters related to the changes. The committee will not consist of more than two (2) representatives from STO and an equal number from management.
Toronto Hydro - Power Workers' Union#
Technological Change
Advance Notice
When the Employer has determined that technological change, which will eliminate or significantly change a job, will be introduced, the Union will be provided not less than two (2) months' advance notice and will be given the opportunity for discussion.
Priority Rights
During the advance notice period, as described in Article 30.01, employees who are so affected will have priority rights to fill any posted vacancy of an equivalent or lower classification level, provided they are qualified, with the employee with the greatest employment seniority having first priority rights. Should the posted vacancy be at a level lower than the employee's technologically-impacted position, the employee will retain her/his current rate of pay and current wage range. In addition, the employee will receive future general increases and step increases in accordance with the Collective Agreement.
New Job
Should a job be eliminated due to technological change and a new job created, the Employer will provide the affected employees, on an employment seniority basis, up to six (6) months' training. Additional training may, subsequent to consultation with the Labour/Management Committee, be provided.
Should there be an insufficient number of newly created jobs, or should no new jobs be created, or should the affected employees choose not to accept the training, then the employees will have the option of being returned to their respective immediate previous positions, or being placed in other positions by the Employer. The Employer will provide up to six (6) months' training. Such employees will retain the current rate of pay and current wage range. In addition, these employees will receive future general increases and step increases in accordance with the Collective Agreement.
Following training, the Probation Article shall apply. Significant Change Should a job be significantly changed due to technological change, the Employer will provide the incumbents up to six (6) months' retraining. Additional training may, subsequent to consultation at the Labour/Management Committee, be provided.
Should this technological change reduce the number of incumbents previously required, then the employees on a least employment seniority basis shall have the option of being returned to their respective immediate previous positions or being placed in other positions by the Employer. The Employer will provide up to six (6) months' training. Such employees will retain the current rate of pay and current wage range. In addition, these employees will receive future general increases and step increases in accordance with the Collective Agreement. Following training received in a new job, the Probation Article shall apply.
In the event the affected employees cause displacement of other employees, the Employer will not be required to provide notice, maintenance of wages or other payments to the displaced employees.
Any employee, whose current rate of pay and current wage range is being retained, as described in Article 30.02, 30.03 and 30.04 shall continue to receive such wage retention provided s/he applies for all posted vacancies for which s/he is qualified. The employee will have priority rights, for such posted vacancies, on an employment seniority basis. Priority rights shall be limited to all those vacancies, above the level at which s/he is being occupied, up to and including the level at which s/he was previously occupied at the time of technological change. Such priority rights and employee obligation to apply for posted vacancies shall continue to be in effect until the employee regains the level from which s/he was originally displaced.
Locals#
| Local | Company | Unit | Tech Clause | Tech Committee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0444 | TRANSALTA ENERGY CORP. | 18 | Y | N |
| 0252 | BWXT NUCLEAR ENERGY CANADA INC | 105 | Y | Y |
| 0027 | SUNOCO INC (SUNCOR ENERGY GROUP) | 89 | Y | N |
| 1999 | RELIANCE COMFORT LTD. GREATER TORONTO AREA | 5 | Y | Y |
| 914 | PLAINS MIDSTREAM | 15 | Y | N |
| 686-B | SUKUNKA NATURAL RESOURCES | 50 | Y | N |
| 0598 | HORNEPAYNE POWER INC | 22 | Y | N |
| 658-A | HUSKY OIL OPERATIONS LTD (REFINERY) | 20 | Y | N |
| 594 | CONSUMERS' CO-OPERATIVE REFINERIES LIMITED, PETROLEUM DISTRIBUTION DEPT : FEDERATED CO-OPERATIVES LIMITED | 0 | Y | N |
| 848 | SHELL CANADA LIMITED (REFINERY) | 0 | Y | N |
| 707-A | SMS EQUIPMENT INC. | 60 | Y | N |
| 501-A | SUNCOR ENERGY INC. (REFINERY) | 0 | Y | N |
| 449 | SUKUNKA NATURAL RESOURCES | 0 | Y | Y |
| 862 | NORTH RIVER MIDSTREAM | 0 | Y | Y |
| 89 | GEMINNI-SRF POWER CORPORATION | 4 | Y | N |
| 2121 | CROSBIE SALAMIS LIMITED : TERRA NOVA EMPLOYERS ORGANIZATION | 2 | Y | N |
| 2121 | WOOD GROUP PSN (TERRA NOVA) | 3 | Y | N |
| 2121 | LIEBHERR CANADA : TERRA NOVA EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATION | 4 | Y | N |
| 2121 | MAGNA SERVICES LIMITED : TERRA NOVA EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATION | 5 | Y | N |
| 2121 | SUNCOR ENERGY INC. : TERRA NOVA EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATION | 6 | Y | N |
| 3000-CA | IMPERIAL OIL STRATHCONA REFINERY (PRODUCTS & CHEMICAL DIV. - REFINING & SUPPLY) : PARTNERSHIP WITH MCCOLL FRON | 8 | Y | N |
| 820 | WATER SECURITY AGENCY | 30 | Y | N |
| 820 | SASKWATER | 10 | Y | N |
| 999 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - SIMCOE | 5 | Y | Y |
| 56 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - BRANTFORD | 0 | Y | N |
| 758 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. | 10 | Y | N |
| 8833 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - OPERATIONS | 1 | Y | N |
| 914 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. | 9 | Y | N |
| 938 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - OPERATIONS | 2 | Y | N |
| 999 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. | 1 | Y | N |
| 758 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. | 20 | Y | Y |
| 938 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - OPERATIONS | 1 | Y | Y |
| 8833 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - CALL CENTRE | 2 | Y | Y |
| 999 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - CHATHAM OFFICE | 2 | Y | Y |
| 999 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - CHATHAM OPERATIONS | 3 | Y | N |
| 999 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - STO | 4 | Y | Y |
| 1999 | RELIANCE COMFORT LTD-SW & CENTRAL (PRE MAY 1992) | 1 | Y | Y |
| 1999 | RELIANCE COMFORT LTD - NE (PRE MAY 1992) | 3 | Y | N |
| 975 | ENERCARE HOME SERVICES | 1 | Y | N |
| 829 | CAPITAL POWER CORPORATION (CPC) | 0 | Y | N |
| 601 | PARKLAND REFINING | 9 | Y | N |
| 431 | TIDEWATER MIDSTREAM & INFRASTRUCTURE LTD | 10 | Y | N |
| 196 | SOCIETE DU CENTRE DES CONGRES DE QUEBEC (SCCQ) | 0 | Y | N |
| 8833 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. - CLERICAL | 3 | Y | Y |
| 2121 | BHI CANADA-UPSTREAM CHEMICALS : HIBERNIA PLATFORM EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATION | 51 | Y | N |
| 2121 | SPECTROL ENERGY SERVICES INC. : HIBERNIA PLATFORM EMPLOYERS' ORGANIZATION | 61 | Y | N |
| 686-B | APEX UTILITIES INC. | 40 | Y | Y |
| 686-B | NORTH RIVER MIDSTEAM (MCMAHON PLANT) | 30 | Y | Y |
| 686-B | CANLIN ENERGY CORPORATION | 70 | Y | N |
| 900 | IMPERIAL OIL, PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS DIVISION (REFINERY) | 1 | Y | N |
| 2003-E | ENWAVE ENERGY CORPORATION | 25 | Y | Y |
| 975 | ENBRIDGE GAS INC. | 2 | Y | Y |
| 1285 | MPS FACILITY SERVICES -CANADA ULC | 65 | Y | Y |
| 681 | MANITOBA HYDRO | 1 | Y | N |
| 0707 | MPS FACILITY SERVICES | 2 | Y | N |
| 686-B | ENBRIDGE ENERGY BC MIDSTREAM | 10 | Y | N |
| 4960 | ENBRIDGE | 1 | Y | N |
| 686-B | ENERSUL CHETWYND PLANT | 20 | Y | N |
| 681 | MANITOBA HYDRO UTILITY SERVICES | 3 | Y | N |
| 0252 | EMERALD ENERGY FROM WASTE INC. | 26 | Y | N |
| 4209 | WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CANADA CORP. | 10 | Y | N |