Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Up to 3,000 AMAPCEO members in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) will be relocated for approximately five years under the OPS Employer’s Queen’s Park Reconstruction Project.
The OPS Employer will begin moving employees out of the Macdonald Block complex over the next few months, with the building expected to be vacant in early 2019. Called the “decant” by the Employer, this initiative will soon begin to impact many—but not all—ministries in the OPS.
Vice-President Cynthia Watt has outlined AMAPCEO’s objectives around this project. “We want to protect members’ interests in terms of health and safety, working conditions, and alternative work arrangements. We want to make sure members are informed and engaged—that there’s more information than rumours. And we want to make sure there are maximum opportunities for employees to have input on the Employer’s plans,” she said. “We also need to make sure that this transition rolls out smoothly with our own governance structure so that our democratic structures as a union continue to thrive.”
The most immediate impact will be the upheaval of moving thousands of employees—not just from one floor to another, but to new areas of the city. The Employer’s plans for the new space will change the way many AMAPCEO members work in the OPS. The footprint of the new rented space is considerably smaller than the current Macdonald Block complex. And, when members return post-renovation, the OPS will be consolidating and reducing leased office space in the city.
The Employer’s early designs for the new workspaces are based on current trends in open concept office design—meaning they will be smaller and even less private than before.
On a positive note, the Employer seems to be finally recognizing that it will need to allow truly flexible work for OPS employees. Working remotely, from home or from regional offices, or on compressed work weeks, could become normal, rather than exceptional.
“We need to make sure that the flexibility is in place for employees, not just for managers: if you want to work remotely, you should be able to, but that shouldn’t be a requirement,” Watt said.
As the union’s lead on this project, Vice-President Watt committed to representing members’ interests throughout the process. “I will continue to work to influence decisions and advocate on our members’ behalf at the central tables where I sit, such as at ACERC and directly with the most senior decision-makers in government,” she said.
AMAPCEO Member News will continue to provide updates on the Queen’s Park Reconstruction Project, but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact amapceo@amapceo.on.ca.