April 10, 2020

• Increased family responsibility leave allotment - employees will be able to access an additional four days of non-emergency family responsibility leave (FRL), bringing the total number allotted to 10 days. The additional days, like the original six, will come out of sick leave credits and will be subject to supervisory approval. FRL days will revert to 6 per year for the 2021/2022 fiscal year.
• More flexibility in work hours/work schedule - Subject to supervisory approval and Manitoba Hydro’s operational requirements, more flexibility is available in work hours and work schedule to help deal with increased demands at home.  Some departments will not be able to offer as much flexibility this way as others and requests for modified work schedules or hours will need to go through your supervisor or manager.
• More flexibility in unpaid personal leaves - As it stands, when an employee takes an unpaid personal leave for family responsibility their job can be held for them for up to six months. Changes to this policy include:
  • Only requiring employees to provide 48 hours’ notice instead of two weeks;
  • Maintaining extended health benefits for up to six months;
  • Including school closures in the definition of “family responsibility” to ensure jobs are guaranteed for six months.
  • Note: with personal leave greater than 30 days their seniority will be affected.
• Enabling use of banked vacation as paid time off - Currently banked vacation cannot be used as paid time off (PTO).  As of Monday, banked vacation can be used as PTO and employees can replenish their vacation bank to their current individual maximum.
• Increased banked overtime maximums - To also aid with granting PTO for employees, corporate overtime banking maximums will be increased by 40 hours (20 hours at double time) and employees can use the extra banked overtime as paid time off.  More detailed information on these changes will be sent to all employees on Monday via an upcoming HR bulletin.

• Scheduling changes – Many staff have seen and will continue to see temporary scheduling changes and modifications.  We are doing our best to consider alternatives that both help limit exposure to COVID-19 while helping staff balance family obligations.
•  Easter Sunday for Shift workers and Modified shift workers
  • For the 2019 and 2020 calendar years, Article F1.3.1.1 will be administered as in 2018 – eligible shift employees will treat Easter Sunday as a Corporation Holiday (and be eligible for overtime pay) and Easter Monday as a normal work day;
  • The Corporation will make pay adjustments for those affected employees who worked on Easter Sunday 2019 (April 21, 2019) in the upcoming weeks ahead;
  • Easter Sunday/Monday issue for shift workers and modified shift workers will be discussed at bargaining on a go forward basis.

As a precaution to help stop the spread of COVID-19, we have been restricting any access to our office at 1907 Portage Avenue.  This change will stay in effect until further notice. We have and will continue to follow up on your concerns.  The office staff will remain available by phone and email to complete as many tasks as possible.  If you have any questions, please call the office at 204-944-2034 or email ibew@ibew2034.com.
 
THANK YOU to all of our dedicated members who all play a vital role in maintaining our important services to Manitoba.  Your dedication, flexibility, and creativity truly need to be commended. 

Stay safe and healthy everyone!

In solidarity,

Businzess Manager
IBEW Local Union 2034