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A Guide for Part-timers at The Canadian Press
So you’re a part-time employee at The Canadian Press!
Congratulations! You’re working with some very talented,
hard-working people. But you still probably have a few
questions. Here are answers to some questions we hear a lot:
If I work part time at The Canadian
Press, am I unionized? Am I a part of the same union as my
full-time colleagues?
As a part-time employee, how does my pay
compare to a full-time employee? Do I get wage increases? How
about overtime?
How do I know how many hours I’ve
worked, so I know when I’ll get a raise?
Am
I eligible for benefits?
Do
I get to take vacation?
Can The Canadian Press just let me go
for no reason?
What are my rights in the event of a
layoff? Do I have seniority?
What if I want a full time job?
What happens if my colleague takes a day
off when I’m not working? What rights do I have to this work?
What if I get sick and can’t work my
shift? Will I be paid?
Where do I go if I need more
information?
If I work part time at The Canadian Press, am I unionized? Am
I a part of the same union as my full-time colleagues?
Yes! You are
a part of the Canadian Media Guild, which represents
full-time, part-time and temporary employees at The Canadian
Press. The Canadian Press first certified in 1949. The Guild
also represents employees at Thompson-Reuters, TVOntario, CBC,
and at several private broadcasters, for a total of nearly
6,000 members. While you still benefit from the salary, leave,
and other provisions of the Collective Agreement, you don’t
become a full member of the Guild until you sign a union card.
This gives you the right to vote in elections and run for
office. It also helps us know a little more about who you are
so we can get in touch with you if we need to. You sign a
union card by contacting one of your local Guild
representatives. If you don’t know who that is, you can find
out here:
http://www.cmg.ca/cpbnbranchcontacts.asp.
As a part-time employee, how does my pay compare to a
full-time employee? Do I get wage increases? How about
overtime?
Your hourly
rate is governed by the same salary scales as your full-time
colleagues. Just like them, you get two kinds of wage
increases. The first kind is a negotiated wage increase that
raises everyone’s rates at the same time by a percentage
determined through collective bargaining. For example in
2009, there are negotiated wage increases on January 1st
and July 1st. You are also eligible for wage
increases based on experience. After every 1750 hours you
work in a salary level, you go up to the next step. You also
get overtime payments on hours worked beyond the end of your
shift, at time-and-a-half. You are also entitled to premiums
for inconvenient shifts: a premium if you work between 7 pm
and 6 am, and an additional premium for work on weekends.
How do I know how many hours I’ve worked, so I know when I’ll
get a raise?
In general,
if you haven’t already reached the highest salary level in
your classification, management will tell you, by February 1st
of each year, how many hours you’ve worked since your last
salary upgrade. If your records are different than theirs,
make sure you ask for a meeting to review the documentation.
In order to make sure you get raises when you’re supposed to,
it’s critical that you keep records of your hours and your pay
stubs. Sometimes there are mistakes, and they can only be
fixed with documentation. Remember that your job is more
important to you than it is to anyone else, and keeping good
records is the best—and sometimes only—way to fix any problems
that might arise. It’s also a good idea to take notes on
conversations affecting your employment status, or to confirm
by email after the fact.
Am I eligible for
benefits?
You are, if
you regularly work 20 hours a week or more. If so, you are
eligible for medical coverage, life insurance and the dental
plan. The employer pays a pro-rated portion of the premium and
you pay the rest.
Do I get to take vacation?
Yes. You
earn vacation pay at the rate of four per cent of your
earnings; this equals two weeks. That four per cent is paid
out in a lump sum each January.
Once you
have worked 1,750 hours, vacation pay increases to six per
cent of your earnings. That equals three weeks of vacation.
If you wish
to take time off, you should talk to your supervisor about
arranging an appropriate time in advance so schedules can be
adjusted. And remember, you won’t receive a pay cheque for
the period you’re not at work unless you request payment for
the vacation pay that has accumulated since the last January
payout.
Can The Canadian Press just let me go for no reason?
That depends
on how long you’ve been working. If you have worked less than
1000 hours total, you can be let go for any reason. That being
said, discrimination of any kind is not acceptable.
After you’ve
worked 1000 hours, you can only be let go for just cause, or
in the event of economic layoffs. This is another important
reason to keep track of your hours.
What are my rights in the event of a layoff? Do I have
seniority?
If you’ve
worked more than 1000 hours, you have seniority based on the
hours you’ve worked. In general, if there is a layoff of part
timers in your classification at your location, the part-timer
with the least seniority should be let go. If you are let go,
you will be placed on a recall list, and if any part-time
positions become available, it will be offered to people on
the part-time recall list in order of seniority. Part-time
employees with seniority who are laid off are entitled to
severance pay; 35 hours’ basic salary for every 875 hours you
have worked to a maximum of 1,820 hours. Remember, even if
you haven’t yet worked 1000 hours, you may be eligible for EI.
What if I want a full
time job?
You should
apply for one, of course. And you’re guaranteed an interview
unless you’ve already had one in the past six months. If
you’re hired, up to two months can be taken off your
probationary period (normally 3 months).
What happens if my colleague takes a day off when I’m not
working? What rights do I have to this work?
The Canadian
Press will frequently offer available work to part-time
employees, but they are not obliged to do so. Conversely, if
you are approached to work a shift, and you don’t want to take
it or you have another obligation, you can turn it down
without any repercussions.
What if I get sick and can’t work my shift? Will I be paid?
You are
eligible to receive up to one week of your basic salary for
each week of continuous service to a maximum of 15 weeks paid
sick leave. This sick leave is pro-rated to your part-time
schedule. That means if you regularly work 2 days/week then
your “basic weekly salary” is two days pay.
Where do I
go if I need more information?
You’ve got a
couple of options. The collective agreement is available
online here:
http://www.cmg.ca/CPcollectiveagreement07-09EN.pdf. You
can also talk to a local Guild rep who can give you a copy of
the collective agreement.
You can find
the people in your location here: http://www.cmg.ca/cpbnbranchcontacts.asp.
And finally,
you can always contact the Guild National office at
1-800-465-4149 or 416-591-5333.
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