Overtime

Prior to the Union negotiated Collective Agreement to work or not to work

overtime as part of your shift was not an option.
Many drivers and crews can relate to the numerous occasions, when
despite their objections, they were given additional dockets resulting in
overtime, excessive hours or extended drives home.
Excerpt - SN Transport Bargaining Proposals Sept 17, 2014, Article 6 Overtime

The Company's proposal would have seen the continuation of arbitrarily assigning overtime to
drivers and crews with little or no consideration given to their finish location, hours they had been
out or family commitments.
Many drivers and crews when voicing concerns to Dispatch of another docket resulting in overtime,
excessive hours or an extended drive home were frequently confronted with the statement "Are
you refusing work?" and the implied threat of disciplinary action.
Now as the result of Union intervention on behalf of it's
membership the Company solicits on a daily basis, volunteer
drivers and crews to work extra hours.
You now have the option of declining overtime and being able to
spend time with your family, participating in a previously planned
activity or helping the company achieve it's goals by agreeing to
be available for extra work .

The option to work extra shifts on your days off is not restricted by the Collective Agreement, nor
was it negotiated away by the Union. However there are conditions you should be aware of.
In May 2014 4 on, 4 off drivers and crews were advised by the Company it was ending the use of
Averaging Agreements. The explanation given was that it was too difficult to have drivers and
crews come to the office and sign their agreements.

The use of Averaging Agreements

guaranteed 4 on, 4 off staff a minimum 10 hours pay regardless of the hours they were out. By
eliminating Averaging Agreements the Company defaulted to the lesser standard as set out under
the Employment Standards Act. Effected employees were told this was a new Company policy and
they would be paid straight time for 8 hours, x 1.5 up to 12 hours and x 2 for any time in excess of
12 hours worked. Employees were told this new policy would remain in effect as long as they were
not disadvantaged. They were not told the guarantee of hours worked had been eliminated.
Excerpt - Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996), Part 4
Prior to the elimination of
Averaging Agreements staff who
volunteered to work extra shifts on
their days off were paid at x 1.5 for
those hours worked.
In conjunction with the elimination of Averaging Agreements and an apparent move to minimize
costs, commencing June 2014 the Company ended it's practice of paying staff who volunteered to
help the Company meet it's contractual obligations and work extra shifts on their days off at x 1.5
regardless of the number of hours they had worked during the work week.
Again the Company defaulted to the lesser standard as set out under the Employment Standards
Act.
Excerpt - Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996), Part 4 Section 40

Comments have been made that Overtime is now reduced. The facts are even before the move to
organize a Union, the Company already had defaulted to the lesser standard as set out in the
Employment Standards Act. They maintained this position throughout negotiations.
Excerpt - SN Transport Bargaining Proposals Sept 17, 2014, Article 6 Overtime
During negotiations the Company refused to
concede little on monetary issues.
This was the Company's overtime policy
prior to and maintained throughout
negotiations. Rather than proposing a
return to their previous overtime policy the Company chose to remain with the lesser standard as
set out in the Employment Standards Act.
The opportunity to work overtime or extra days has not been reduced as the result of Union
negotiations. This is an existing practice the Company has chosen to continue with.

You now have the choice!