Many CBC/Radio-Canada members are now adjusting to working from home, and filing remotely. There’s also a major adjustment in offices where members are deemed essential to operations.
It’s going to seem odd – but stay away from each other (for now).
Call into your story meetings, instead of gathering around one big table, and do even more interviews by skype, hangout or facetime. (Maybe advise your guest not to have the camera aimed at their nostrils).
Needs during school and daycare closures
We continue to encourage CBC/Radio-Canada to be flexible with leave requests and work arrangements.
-For members in provinces with school and childcare centre closures because of COVID-19, they may be eligible for Special Leave conditional on operational requirements.
Employees must submit the special leave form when making a request to their manager.
-If an employee is ill, sick leave applies
-If an employee is in quarantine, the Corporation will make compensation decisions on a case-by-case basis
Please refer to Article 72 of the Collective Agreement. Contact your Staff Rep if you have questions.
Annual leave
CBC/Radio-Canada has agreed to extend the annual leave request deadline from April 1st, to April 30th
It buys a little more time to compensate for the disruption caused by the pandemic
This covers the annual leave period of May 15 – October 31, 2020
If this extension jeopardizes plans for early May, speak to your manager about an earlier request
Right to refuse work
If you are assigned to a COVID-19 story in the field, read the latest guidelines on iO and ensure a risk assessment has been done. You can refuse to work if you believe it cannot be performed safely.
A danger is defined as “any hazard, condition or activity that could reasonably be expected to be an imminent or serious threat to the life or health of a person exposed before the hazard or condition can be corrected or the activity altered.” Certain criteria and exceptions may apply.
If you refuse to perform the work, make sure to notify your manager. Your manager must investigate and respond. If they disagree, notify the co-chairs of the workplace health and safety committee. The co-chairs must investigate and respond. If they disagree with you, you can escalate and notify Employment and Social Development Canada. An ESDC inspector will investigate and will give a final response.
This process is meant to protect the workers’ health and safety from dangerous work. It is not meant to refuse all work. Employers can take disciplinary action against an employee who the employer can demonstrate has willfully abused his right to refuse dangerous work.
To know more about the right to refuse, please consult this page or contact your health and safety representative, or the Staff Representative assigned to your group.
Kim Trynacity,
President, CBC/Radio-Canada Branch, Canadian Media Guild (CMG)