In 2008, the union filed a policy grievance in response to Loblaw breaching the terms and conditions of the 2006 collective agreement by hiring employees into Back to Best positions. In the last set of negotiations, the union and company reached a resolution.
What will happen to the Back to Best positions?
All 94 Back to Best Positions are being discontinued in accordance with the resolution of the grievance. The company agreed to provide Back to Best employees 30 days notification within two weeks of ratification (October 6, 2010) that their positions will be discontinued.
The company is posting 23 regular full-time positions and 71 Compressed Work Week positions, to which the 94 Back to Best employees are invited to apply.
Part-time employees, who may have held more seniority than successful Back to Best applicants when the Back to Best positions were posted, are also invited to apply to the 23 full-time positions. Those applicants with more part-time seniority than a Back to Best employee will be given preference. Review the Letter of Understanding regarding the Back to Best positions, from the memorandum of settlement.
I am a not a Back to Best employee, can I apply for any of these positions?
If you are a part-time employee, who may have held more seniority than successful Back to Best applicants when the Back to Best positions were posted, you can also apply to the 23 full-time positions.
What is a Compressed Week position?
These are full-time positions with a four-day work week. All Back to Best employees are invited to apply for these positions, which are intended to increase full-time coverage on weekends and evenings while providing the opportunity to work a compressed work week. Learn more about the compressed work weeks.
I am a Back to Best worker, how is my seniority evaluated?
Back to Best employees will be credited with normal full-time seniority from the time they started in these positions. Exception: You will have been deemed to have accrued part-time seniority in the Back to Best position if you went directly from working part-time to a Back to Best position and if you are being considered for one of the 23 full-time jobs along with another employee, who had greater seniority at the time you were hired. You will have been deemed to have accrued part-time seniority for this purpose only.
How do I apply for a Compressed Work Week or regular position?
Whether it’s for a Compressed Work Week position or a Regular Position, select your preferred job by indicating your preference in numerical order. E.g., if your top pick is a Night Crew Clerk Compressed Work Week position at #1029, then you would put “1” in front of this position. If your next most preferred position is a Night Crew Clerk “Regular “position at #1212, then you would put “2” beside this job. Interested employees are strongly advised to select all jobs in order of preference as otherwise you may not be offered a position if someone senior to you takes it.
Furthermore, you do not have first right of refusal so if you have the most seniority over all applicants for a Compressed Work Week position at #1029 and that was your number “1” selection, you will be given that position provided it is within your departmental seniority.
I am a Back to Best worker, what happens if I am not awarded one of the 94 positions?
You may, if otherwise entitled, bump into a Compressed Work Week position but may not bump into a regular position. If you do not bump into a Compressed Work Week position, you will be absorbed into a newly created Compressed Work Week position. The company has committed to create at least four new Compressed Work Week positions for the purpose of absorption.
If you have more questions, please contact your full time staff representative.
BACK TO BEST HISTORY
In 2008, the company began hiring employees into Back to Best positions at its stores. As a result, it was violating the terms and conditions of the 2006 collective agreement by requiring applicants to sign away key collective agreement rights in return for the Back to Best positions. Key violations included:
- Employees must volunteer to work Sundays and evenings and be paid straight time, even if they were on the payroll prior to the last settlement (October 15, 2006).
- Employees will NOT be put on the full-time seniority list. They will continue to accumulate only part-time seniority.
- Other requirements were also problematic. In the event an employee’s store is closed or converted, their buyout or buyover payments would be based on the part-time amounts, not the full-time amounts.
