Dear Local Executives/Stewards and Division Members,

Outstanding VDT Policy Grievance

We are asking local executives and Stewards to canvass your members to see who in your work sites have been exposed to extended and prolonged periods of time in front of VDT (Video Display Terminals) without relief away from viewing, this should include the dates/times/shifts they worked as far back as 2003, as well as any documentation you can get from members or the employer. 

If you are a member and are reading this off of the web site, we will need you to bring your information to your local executive or a steward so that they can forward it to MERC and/or the Grievance department.

This information must be in to us by June 27th, 2010.

COTA

Management has advised the union that after approximately a yearlong freeze on hiring on more fixed term employees, they can no longer wait and will be running 2 COTA sessions this year due to retirements and loss of staff for various reasons.

They have complained to the union that they are unable to manage many of their sites due to shortages of the fixed term ranks. Management has further indicated that COTA classes will begin August 9th and that each session will have two classes of 40, which will be out in the field by October 1st and then two more classes of another 40 will start October 13th, to be placed in the work sites by December 3rd.

The work locations of these new employees/members will be placed according to management’s comprehensive assessment of what is required in the field and present usage; they have yet to share their planned placement of new staff/members with the union.

As stated, the union has yet to see any assessment or plan, but has requested it and we have now added “New COTA classes and Comprehensive Assessment” to the MERC agenda.

In Sol., MERC