News - November 2010           Previous Month         Following Month

Headlines of the current month's news items are listed immediately below. Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.

Selection of Health and Safety Committee Members and Representatives

using 'Managerial Functions' as a criterion

Kingston accuses Conservatives of misrepresenting progress

on food inspection system reform

Here's our October 'Rand Contest' winner...

Selection of Health and Safety Committee Members and Representatives using 'Managerial Functions' as a criterion

(Posted November 30, 2010)

It is important Locals ensure those persons who participate as management representatives on workplace health and safety committees or as representatives are persons who actually exercise “managerial functions”.

There has been some debate as to whether or not those management representatives selected by the employer truly exercise “managerial functions” as provided for by the Canada Labour Code Part II and its Regulations.
In order to assist Locals in determining if the right people are participating as management representatives, they should be guided by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s (HRSDC) Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines (IPG) on the matter. HRSDC’s full interpretation can be viewed HERE.

In brief, although there is no single definition of “managerial function”, HRSDC determined “managerial functions” are those functions which indicate whether an employee is management oriented in terms of his/her responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities performed need to “seriously impact” on the employment status of other employees.

In order to ensure consistent and uniform application of the Code and its Regulations, the “managerial functions” criteria to be met can be summarized as follows:

           1. decision-making authority in financial, operational, personnel and policy matters;
           2. the power to make decisions or effective recommendations that materially affect the conditions of

                 employment of others, i.e. recommendations that are usually acted upon;
           3. the power to hire, fire, suspend, demote, transfer or otherwise discipline employees; and
           4. the person acts as a step in the grievance procedure.

Supervisors typically do not meet the criteria identified and therefore are not an acceptable alternative as management representative to workplace safety and health committees. Exceptions may be made with consultation and approval of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy Committee.

Should you require any clarification or assistance regarding this issue, please contact your Union Co-Chairperson for the OSH Policy Committee.

Kingston accuses Conservatives of misrepresenting progress on food inspection system reform

(Posted November 4, 2010)

National President Bob Kingston says the Harper government is misrepresenting its progress addressing some of the most important recommendations for reform of Canada’s food inspection system made in the wake of the 2008 Maple Leaf Foods listeriosis outbreak.

Kingston levied the accusation in a news release as the House of Commons Health Committee began hearings November 4 on the implementation of many recommendations made by investigator Sheila Weatherill.

The entire text of our news release can be read HERE

Here's our October 'Rand Contest' winner...

(Posted November 2, 2010)

Congratulations to Rozina Anwar! She's the latest monthly winner in our 2010 contest to sign up ‘Rands’, dues-paying co-workers who, for one reason or another, have yet to sign a union card.

Rozina is a newly-signed-up member of Local 14, which represents our Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada members in Toronto.

Welcome to the Agriculture Union, Rozina!