Wednesday, February 08, 2023
Last year, AMAPCEO members in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) ratified a new collective agreement that preserves their rights to alternative work arrangements. Today, the union launched its campaign to encourage members who want this flexibility to request it.
“AMAPCEO members have access to some of the strongest contract provisions in the public sector when it comes to flexibility on when and where we work,” union President Dave Bulmer said. “Our goal is to make sure anyone who wants to use this flexibility has a fair opportunity to do so.”
This can include compressed work week schedules, where members work additional time each day to earn a regular day off, remote work, or a combination of the two. Thousands of AMAPCEO members are already taking advantage of these provisions to avoid commuting during peak times, spend more time with loved ones, tend to dependent care needs, or better balance their work/life commitments.
AMAPCEO Vice-President Cynthia Watt pointed out the timing of the union’s push. “The Employer hasn’t indicated when their pandemic plan will wind down and their long-promised hybrid work plan is months overdue. Exercising our rights now will help AMAPCEO members in the OPS get the flexibility they need today and going forward.”
To that end, the union launched a new online tool to make it easy for members to request a compressed work week or remote work—or both—from their managers. The tool also automatically generates the required draft alternative work arrangement agreements.
Start an alternative work arrangement request »
Members can request one of four different models of compressed work weeks, and up to five days of remote work a week, as the AMAPCEO OPS Collective Agreement does not include a set maximum. Managers are obligated to consider each request and its operational viability in good faith.
“The success of the last three years has demonstrated the many positives of flexible work,” Watt said. “We think OPS managers know this, too.”
Still, given the OPS Employer’s recent history, the union is prepared. AMAPCEO has temporarily increased the one-on-one support available to members in the event certain requests are denied. The union has seconded a small team of dedicated Workplace Representatives to help members with their requests.
“Our contract language determines access to flexible work, and we will be exercising all the rights we protected in bargaining,” Bulmer said. “We will use all the tools at our disposal to secure alternative work arrangements for those who wish to pursue them.”
AMAPCEO members can learn more about alternative work arrangements and submit compressed work weeks and remote work requests at amapceo.ca/awa.