Alternate Shift IssueFrom the article that appeared in Vancouver Sun on December 9, 2019, it mentions that a main issue strike was “alternate shifts”. See the following link for details and a cut and paste of the paragraphs where the article talks about it.
Can we have some discussion on the following questions:
1. The article mentions “the company
can use compressed work weeks, longer hours per day and irregular days off”.
Does this mean that there would normally be a regular shift (e.g. 8 hours), but when say the company receives a large order, then the company wants the flexibility to move to an alternate shift schedule (e.g. 10 hours) and have workers work a longer schedule to complete the order ?
If the flexibility doesn’t exist, then there could be a competing provider, say in the USA that can meet the customers requested delivery date and the order would be lost.
2. How much lead time is typically provided when an alternate shift would take place? Is this typically a same day notice, a few days notice, or week’s notice?
3. Any thoughts on how company management and union can resolve this issue? (E.g. pay overtime or a shift bonus for those willing to work the alternate shift)
https://vancouversun.com/business/local-business/western-forest-products-appeals-to-premier-to-help-intervene-in-strike Here's the paragraphs where they mention this issue:
A main sticking point remains the issue of “alternate shifts” in which the company can use compressed work weeks, longer hours per day and irregular days off, said Butler. These are “universally despised by our members,” said Butler.
“We view them as dangerous shifts,” he said. “People are fatigued. A lot of the 10-hour shifts come with split days off … workers don’t know where they are going. We’ve got lots of reports of workers falling asleep coming or going from work, or falling asleep on the job.”
That’s combined with a drug and alcohol policy that Butler said is resulting in tests for minor incidents and most often leads to terminations instead of rehabilitation.
Demens said the company has already dropped most of its proposals — including options for pension plan reform — to try to get a deal. But shift flexibility during a time of slumping prices and global uncertainty is necessary for the business, he said.
“We try to work with our crews on shifting,” said Demens. “We’ve offered that to the union that we would engage with them on meaningful discussions on shifting. But to have this industry successful when there’s so many challenges from a competitiveness perspective, and having the union have full veto rights over shifting is not going to work very well.”