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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-1652.Kirstein.89-09-01EMPLOY& DEU COURONNE DEL’ONTARIO CQMMISSION DE REGLEMENT DES GRIEFS IN TEE NATTER OF AN ARBITRATION Under TBE CROWN ENPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT Between: Before TEE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD OPSEU (Irv Kirstein - and - Grievor The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of Community & Social Services) Employer Before: P. Knopf P. Klym F. Collict Vice-Chairperson Member Member For the Grievor: For the Employer: Hearings: P. Lukasiewicz Counsel Gowling, Strathy & Henderson Barristers & Solicitors S. Patterson Counsel Legal Services Branch ,Ministry of Community & Social Services Barristers & Solicitors January 31, 1989 March 13, 1989 June 28, 1989 DECISIO_N_ This is a classificatisn casz. When the gri?vance was launched and the proceedings began, the grievor was classified as an Audiovisual Technician. However, during the course of these proceedings, the Employer acknowledged that the grievor's duties would ?rogerly be considered to be those of a Public Relations Officer and agreed to reclassify him as such. The dispute between the parties is whether the position is properly classified as a Public Relations Officer 1 or a Public Relations Officer 2 (PRO 1 or PRO 2). The grievor, Irv Kirstein, works at Surrey Place Centre (Surrey Place). Between the time that these issues arose and these hearings were held, Surrey Place was divested from Ministry control. The grievor continues to work there, but this grievance really only affects his status prior to divestment. However, we shall speak of the Centre in the present tense because it is still very much in operation. At all material times, Surrey Place provides research and therapeutic assistance to patients, families and students involved in the areas such as developmental disabilities and mental retardation. The Centre is divided into a number of programmes. The senior people in each programme are referred to as the Department Beads and are members of management. They run and co-ordinate programmes such as speech therapy and communications. Mr. Kirstein is a one-person "programme" referred to as the Audiovisual Department. He is also referred to as the Department Head of Audiovisual and, like other Department Heads, reports directly to Julie Doherty, the Manager of Support and Administrative Services. However, unlike the other Department Beads, the grievor is not considered as a member of management and does not supervise clerical or other staff on a regular basis. -2- In an effort to try and resolve the classification issue, a position description was drafted that both the grievor and management of Surrey Place agree is factually accurate. It was never finalized or formalized because the two parties could not agree on the level of the classification, but the substance and the contents of the draft were accepted by both parties. It reads as follows: PURPOSE OF POSITION: To assist in plannin,g, developing, producing and co-ordina ring in ternal communication and public information programs for Surrey Place Centre. STATEMENT OF MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Assists in planning, developing, and arranging the Centre’s media activities to enhance the public’s knowledge of the facility’ by: - planning, organizing, writing, producing and co-ordinating under direction media presentations for use by administration and program directors - planning and arranging, designing and construe ting exhibits and displays - operating and maintaining sound motion pit ture and video projection equipment - assisting in co-ordinating external requests from related agencies for speakers, media presentations and displays to describe the Centre ‘s programs and services - supervising production and presentation assignments contracted to outside agencies - assisting in conducting lectures and showing media productions on assigned subjects to schools, service clubs and other interested organizations - advising and guiding own and other ministry personnel and other related agency staff on their requirements for media programming to be used to obtain maximum impact for the - 3 - greatest cost to benafi t ratio through consultation and active participation. 2. Assists in planning, developing, arranging and evaluating internal information programs by: - meeting with line staff and management to obtain information for production and presentation using media software - davelosing a communication system and harmonious working relationships wi th commercial programmers to access media presentation for the Centre - developing guidelines, visual aids and scripts for the Centre’s spokespeople - assisting in developing and arranging special events at the Centre - assisting the Manager, Information and Liaison Services in the development of information and promotional programs, contacting organizations and media to whom publicity material is to be distributed - attending staff meetings, conferences, training workshogs, etc. for the purpose of assisting and/or securing material and taking photographs - collecting and editing articles for newsletters and bulletins - consulting on media requirements for grant proposals - training and/or assisting in training staff in presentation skills, use of projection and camera equipment with video display capabilities - supervising and training staff on the use of media resources for production and/or presentation - assisting in evaluating the creative resources, services and viability of outside suppliers of media in order to secure information for presentation - estimating Budgetory requirements for the section, developing short and long term work i - 4 - plans and co-ordinating section activities to meet facility publicity requirements - developing, operating and maintaining a media library of the Centre’s activities, presentations an,d events - developing, operating and *maintaining an equipment resource centre for production and presentation of the Centre’s activities, presentations and events. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: - A knowledge of media services, electronic journalism, public relations and communications - Ability to develop and maintain information and promotion programs - Good knowledge of production techniques for electronic communications and special training in photography - Ability to develop and maintain harmonious relations with staff, the public and media - Ability to handle multimedia distribution operations. The dispute between the parties is over the details of what Mr. Kirstein has been doing and whether he “best fits” within the PRO 1 or PRO 2 classification level. The grievor described his duties and,several projects in which he has been involved in great detail. For example, he explained how he produced a catalogue and series of slides on toys which are best used by retarded infants and children. This was circulated as “The Toy Library”. ‘To do this, he photographed the toys and drafted descriptions of the toys and instructions on how they were to be used by children and parents. He also drafted the initial script that was used to promote the idea of the Toy Library with the slides. This script was reviewed by the Director of the Toy Library and amendments were required. Mr. Kirstein then made - 5 - further revisions of the draft with the Director until the script was approved by them both. Mr. Kirstein then hired a professional announcer to record the script. The entire package was then produced and has been widely circulated and achieved considerable success. Similarly, Mr. Kirstein worked with the Director of Communications, Dr. Hill, on a four-module video tape presentation for the training of speech therapists. Mr. Kirstein explained that he took Dr. Hill's expertise and information to draft an initial version of a script for the units in collaboration with Dr. Hill. The script was then reviewed by and with Dr. Hill until it was finally approved by him. Mr. Kirstein then found the locations for the filming, did the videotaping and edited the tapes. Mr. Kirstein conceded that Dr. Hill was the final authority for the entire product. Mr. Klrstein was also involved in the hiring of external sources such as professional announcers and camera crews. This would often be done with other senior personnel. Mr. Kirstein would advise who he felt would be the most appropriate. On the 50 or 60 occasions that this occurred, he believes his advice was virtually always accepted. Mr. Kirstein also explained his role in Surrey Place's Open House. This is conducted every two years to make the Ministry, the Minister and other professionals in the mental retardation field more aware of the activities and resources of the Centre. As the name "Open House" suggests, the Centre opens its door and each programme promotes and explains itself largely through audiovisual displays. Mr. Kirstein's initial role was to approach each of the other Department Heads and determine what they wanted to visually show about their own programmes. Mr. Kirstein would then work with them and produce the display required, either by way of Bulletin boards, tapes, videos and/or photographs. - 6 - Mr. Kirstein was also involved in a 10 to 15-minute slide presentation which was the introduction to Surrey Place in general. This show was originally created before Mr. Kirstein came to Surrey Place in 1377. But it was revised every two years. It was designed as a “stand alone” tape slide production and was narrated by a professional announcer. Mr. Kirstein said that he either took or supervised the taking of many of the slides for the show. He also says that he wrote the scripts. He described some scripts as requiring one revision and others as requiring nine to ten revisions when input was received from others. Mrs. wa ts 0” , the Manager of Information and Liaison Services, disputes that Mr. Kirstein ever had any effective input into this script and claims that if he ever did produce a script it was never used. Mr. Kirstein claims that she is simply, mistaken on this point and does not have an accurate recollection of their dealings together. The Employer disputes the degree of input that the grievor had into many of the the scripts discussed in evidence. The grievor is not credited as being the author of the scripts in the credit notes or of any publications. Basically, Mr. Kirstein said he would emerse himself in the subject, produce a first draft, often after major consultation with the expert , land then turn the draft over to the expert for revision. Mr. Kirs tein admi ts that the scripts often underwent major revisions in the hands of the experts. Typically, in the acknowledgement set tions, the grievor was listed as the photographer and others xere listed as scriptwriters. Never is the grievor credited as being a scriptwriter. Mr. Kirstein explained this mode as being necessary for professional recognition and crsdibility because the experts had to be credited with and responsible for the professional input and final product. In fairness, he agreed that the scripts were collaborative efforts where - 7 - he WO” devise chosen 1’ d take what the experts wanted to say and 30 and then the best way to do it in the media that ha.3 bean Mr. Kirstein described other projects ha worked on involving the production of video tapes, either by writing and/or assisting in scripts, videotaping, hiring technical staff and/or editing the ta?ed material. The tases varied from instructional tapes on the use of sign language to lecture format videos. He was also involved in printed media such as a series of publications for retarded mothers dealing with the care of infants, by doing the photographs and the visual layouts for the publications. He also contributed a few articles to'the Centre's Quarterly Newslettar and sat on the editorial committee. Although usually behind the camera, Mr. Kirstein was called upon occasionally to do direct work with the public. For example, the Director of Information Services, Audrey Watson, or the Director of Volunteer Services, Doreen Sears, were usually responsible for giving tours of the Centre to visitors. However, in both their absences, Mr. Kirstein would conduct the tours by greeting visitors, showing them the tape slide presentation and taking them through the Centre. Mr. Kirstein was also rssonsible for receiving calls into the Centre requesting audiovisual material. Mr. Kirstein would fill the request through the media library which he controlled and would seek media information through other sources when required. He also produced and kept a current catalogue of audiovisual materials. Mr. Kirstein also described how he would develop a "five-year plan” for his Audiovisual Department on the projects and programmes he wanted developed. These plans were then discussed and approved both financially and - 3 - conceptually by senior managemzn t through the Director of Support Services, Julie Doherty, and/or the Director of the Centre, Dr. Rubino. He also met With other personnel in the Ministry once a year to discuss media programmes. se was diractly involved in the development of the Ministry’s media logo for all their slide and video productions. Over the years, the grievor kept a record of the amount of time he spent on his various duties. While there is some dispute over this, it does reveal that he spent approximately 30 per cent of his time in production which includes obtaining and developing a concept, filming, obtaining~ talent, editing, drafting and producin.3 material, then testing and releasing it. He spent five to ten per cent of his time repairing equipment and another five to ten per cent of his time setting up, tearing down’ and getting material ready for presentation. The parties disagreed over the characterization of a lot of the work done by the grievor. For example, he described his work on the Newsletter as “editing” while the Director-in-Chief, Doreen Sears, did not consider his contribution in the nature of editing because it did not involve editing of articles per se as opposed to his work on the committee as a whole where he simply advised on the content of the paper and production of articles and pho tog raphs . Another example is that of his editing of video tapes. The grievor describes his filming and selection of footage as production, direction and editing. Whereas the Employer describes this as the mere technical splicing of tapes under the direction of the expert in charge of the project. It should also be recognised that the Manager of Information and Liaison Services, Audrey Watson, played a large role in the public relations for Surrey Place. She -9- ensured that the agencies, families an;l other groups w?.rz awara of Surrey Place’s services. She worked closely with Mr. Kirstein on many projects. She credits him with a (great deal of the work. She also credits Mr. Kirstein with a graat deal of input but really only in a technical sense such as taking photographs and setting up displays. In terms of supervision, the grievor reports directly to Mrs. Doherty, the Manager of Information an:d Support Services. She described his job as has been outlined above. She also added acknowledgement of his reponsibility over the management of the budget for his department and ensuring that the Audiovisual Department provided services for the programmes and projects needed by the Centre. She also acknowledged that he was responsible for setting his own priori ties. She was aware of his role in the Centre, if not fully aware of the extent of the responsibilities he claimed. For example, she never discussed scriptwri ting with him because it was not her understanding that it was part of his job. She admits that he reported to her on an “as needed basis” and that she would get together with him for budgetary purposes or regarding financial matters with the project. She had no audiovisual, public relations or media expertise or training. Thus she did not supervise him in that sense. She admits that Mr. Kirstein’s role was unique in the Centre as being a one-person department and Department Head all at the same time. Mr. Kirstein had no staff to supervise himself, but he did occasionally have some students who worked under him in the summer. To put this all into perspective, it is necessary to set out the class definitions for the PRO 1 and PRO 2 respectively. - 10 - PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICZR 1 ---------- CLASS DZFINI'I'ION: _----~-- This is the entry level class in the Public Relations Officer series, providing on-the-job training in the different areas of departmental information services and public relations work. Supervision is exercised by a senior officer who assigns work and outlines methods, procedures and style of presentation. The work performed is reviewed and checked and the employees are expected to become familiar with sources of information and the various media through which it can be successfully distributed and promoted. This is the terminal class for simpler positions associated with public relations work, such as: positions in which photography is a substantial function in combination with a number of other public relations activities, and positions which involve the provision of straightforward information at exhibits, displays and through special information programs. CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES: May assist in writing and editing articles, news releases, scripts, feature stories, advertisements, promotional pamphlets, speeches, and reports for departmental publications, radio, press, and T.V. Assist in the planning, arranging and constructing of exhibits. Operate and maintain sound motion picture projection equipment. Assist in conducting lectures and showing motion pictures on assigned subjects to schools, service clubs and other interested organizations. May attend staff meetings, conferences, competitions, festivals, etc., as observers in order to secure material for news stories and take photographs. Contact organizations and media to whom publicity material is to be distributed, as directed by superiors. - 11 - '; Perform othtir related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: ----- 1. Grade 12 standing, prefcra>ly with a university course in journalism or special training in advertising, publicity, journalism and photography. 2. Preferably several years' experience in public relations work or a closely related field and a number of years' experience in the department. 3. Facility of expression in speech and in writing; ability to develop and maintain harmonious relations with the public. PUBLIC RELA'IIONS OFFICER1 - CLASS DEFINITION: This class covers public relations work performed under direction and usually involves assisting a senior public relations official in his particular sphere of responsibility. General direction is given and employees are expected to use initiative in developing information and material for the departmental information or publicity programme. These employees generally have some choice in the development and priority of work programmes, but their work is usually reviewed by their supervisor. CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES: Write and edit articles, news releases, scripts, feature stories, advertisements, promotional pamphlets, speeches, reports for departmental publications, radio, press, and T.V., which are subject to review by a senior public relations officer, administrator or departmental committee. Write scripts for eound movies and T.V. and record commentaries for sound projections on direction from superiors. Deliver lectures and show motion pictures on specialized subjects to interested organizations as directed. - 12 - May assist j sunior i~u:lli- r.:i,-~ .t~o;>s ->:I!i~~.:i~,t1 /~ I L'1.i .l.-: ,J.? l..~);),~ll,,! :, t :.,; special departmental information or promotion programmes; contact groups and organizations to publiclze programmes and secure their intarast and co-operation; provide materiai and assistance in their implementation. Prepare or edit articles, or speeches to be delivered by senior officials, undertaking the necessary research to insure accuracy of content. Attend staff meetings to discuss and secure information for presentation. Under direction, plan and arrange for construction of exhibits and arrangement of displays. May supervise small clerical staff, or one or more junior public relations officers. Perform other related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Grade 12 standing, preferably a university course in journalism, or special training in advertising, publicity, journalism and photography. 2. Two years' acceptable experience as a Public Relations Officer 1, or the equivalent in outside experience and/or education. 3. Facility of expression in speech and in writing; ability to develop and maintain harmonious relations with the public; ability to supervise junior public relations and clerical employees. Finally, while there was some evidence tendered of a PRO position with another Ministry for purposes of a proposed "usage" argument, it was insufficient to be of any assistance and we have disregarded it completely in accordance with the Board's previous decisions in McTamney, Board File 1553/85 and Boyle, Board File 0675/89. - 13 - The Arqumen t ---- Counsel for the Union explore,? in detail Class Defini tisns for PRO 1 and PRO 2. It was argued that the PRO 1 ought to be considered an entry level jos which was inappropriata for the grievor because the grievor worked alone without any supervision in this Eield. Instead, it was said that the PRO 2 definition was more appropriate because it contemplated the grievor’s responsibilities for setting his own responsibilitias and working directly with senior administrative personnel. Counsel reviewed in detail the various projects that the grievor has worked upon and stressed his creative and innovative ingut into each project. It was argued that the fact that the grievor was not credited with authorship was due by definition to the public relations function and was necessitated by the requirement that the productions carry the authorship of the expert in the field. A PRO 1 was described as a “junior, assisting level with reporting requirements” that was said to be inappropriate to the grievor’s responsibility. In contrast, it was argued that the grievor creates, develops and produces media presentations and is thus more appropriately described as a PR3 2. It was said that all PRO’s are required to assist senior levels as part of their very reason for being but the grievor’s assistance was to Programme Directors and thus best fit within the PRO 2 categorization. The Employer argued that the job duties best fit within the PRO 1 categoriza tion. Stressing that the grievor had agreed as to the accuracy of the draft Position Specification (Exhibit 7), counsel underlined the many aspects of that document which deal with “assisting” and working “under direction”. This was said to be consistent with a PRO 1 “terminal class for simpler positions associated with public relations work” and consistent with the character - 14 - i of tne duties listed under the Public Relations Officer 1 Class Definition. Counsel for the Employer describe? the grievor's duties as performing the mechanical functions such as videotaping, audiotaping and m+zcnanical editing. It wss pointed out that the grievor is not responsible for the message which is produced on the videos and, therefore, cannot claim to be the author of scripts when the responsibility for these documents rests with the technical experts. Where the grievor was acknowledged to have written some materials, such as for the 'Toy Library, it was argued that he simply took the materials given to him by other people and produced documents in such a way that does not fit within the PRO 2 classification. Counsel also analysed the amount of time that the grievor had spent in production and suggested that the majority of that time was spent in the "mechanical duties such as filming, photographing and pulsing" presentations. Thus, whatever creative input the grievor may have had, it was said that this carries minimal weigh.t in the analysis of his core duties. Thus, on the whole, we were asked to accept that the grievor ought to be classified as a PRO 1. The Conclusion -- At the outset, we must admit that this has been a very difficult case for the Board to decide. Mr. Kirstein's duties at Surrey Place involved the use of modern equipment and concepts which were probably not even imagined when the job definitions for the Public Relations Officers were drafted in 1962. Therefore, it is not easy to fit his role into the outdated concepts contained in those documents. Further, where there are differences in the factual details . supplied by the witnesses, it has been difficult to decide which version ought to be preferred. All witnesses presented themselves es sincere, honest and straightforward. .No one displayed any desire to fabricate or mislead. Nor were there - 15 - any internal inconsistencies in any case. While Mr. Kirstein may have been unconsciously influenced by his own best interests in his recollection of the events, the management witnesses were often hampered by their lack of recall of specific detail due to the passage of time and aoilty to observe. Thus, the two faults on either side tended to equalize each other. Thus, the Board has had to weign all of the evidence from the perspectives of common sense and objectivity in an attempt to determine the true core functions and true characteristics of Mr. Kirstein's job. In fairness, we are convinced that the duties of the grievor do not fall squarely within the level of a PRO 1 or a PRO 2. For example, there are several aspects of the PRO 1 position that are significantly lower in responsibility than what is expected of the grievor. For example: (a) His work is not assigned to him by a senior officer "who . . . outlines methods, procedures and style of presentation." (b) He does not attend,staff meetings, conferences etc. as an observer to secure materials for news stories and photographs. He attends staff meetings as a contributor to planning sessions with other Department Heads and other Ministry personnel. (c) Because he worked so long, it is inappropriate to consider this "on-the-job training" as an "entry level class" in the areas of information services and public relations work. Similarly, there are aspects of the Class Definition of the PRO 2 that seem inappropriate to Mr. Kirstein's duties. For example: - 16 - (a) He does not "assist a Senior Public Relations Officer." (b) He does not "deliver lectures" to intarastei organizations, except to the extent that he conducts tours occasionally and answers questions on his slide shows in the absence of experts. Cc) He does not prepare or edit speeches to be delivered by senior officers. (d) He does not "supervise small clerical staff or one or more junior public relations offiers." Unfortunately, our task as a Board is not so simple that we can just add sup the list of similarities and differences in the Class Definitions. Instead, we must determine the true nature of the characteristics of the responsibilities of the position as a whole and see where they best fit within the two levels offered to us by the parties. In many ways, the PRO 1 level does seem appropriate. He does perform all the characteristic duties of the position. Much of -the work could be considered as "the simpler position" where photography plays a substantial function and he is involved in producing "straightforward information at exhibits and displays." Similarly, he clearly does assist in writing scripts, and/or planning and arranging exhibits. He can be said to be a technical assistant or technical wizard in most of the audiovisual productions at the Centre. The PRO 1 does seem to be someone who plays an assisting or "technical role" in media promotions and communications. ; I = - 17 - However, to accept the grievor as a PRO 1 would be to ignore several significant aspects of his responsibilities. First of all, unlike a PRO 1, a PRO 2 is reguired to “base initiative in developing information and material for the departmental information or publicity programme.” All the evidence acknowledges that the grievor is called upon to use his initiative and creativity in developing the expert’s ideas and desires into the media format. Further, a Public Relations Officer 2 has “some choice in the development and priority of work programmes.’ This is not a characteristic of the PRO 1, but is definitely a characteristic of the grievor in his daily work, as well as the planning of his department on a yearly and five-yearly basis. Dther aspects of the duties of the PRO 2 that are not done by as PRO 1, Su t for which the grievor is clearly responsible, are attending staff meetings to discuss and secure information for presentation as well as directing, planning and arrangin.g for construction of exhibits and arrangement of displays. This leaves the key area of dispute between the parties as to whether the grievor “assits” or actively writes and edits articles, scripts and promotional material. The Employer would have us characterize the role as assisting and therefore as a PRO 1. The Union would see it as falling within the role of a PRO 2. In fairness, both Class Definitions again seem somewhat appropriate because the grievor admits himself that he is not the author of the scripts. They are often done in collaboration and his contributions may be extensively revised. This fits with a PRO 1. But it also fits with a PRO 2 whose writing iS “subjected to review by a Senior Public Relations Officer, administrator or departmental committee.” The grievor’s work is subject to review by Department Heads, experts and the Centre’s Director and departmental committees. We are prepared to accept that his creative pride may have tended to - 10 - i have him honestly perceive a mistaken degree of importance t:_> his contributions. This might explain the differences between his and Ms. Watson's r.acollections. But we do accept that iht) did play a creative role in the development of several scripts, story boards and concepts for the video an,3 slide productions. His work was subjected to review by the experts but that is completely consistent with a PRO 2 categorization. The fact that he was not credited as aut:hor is neither surprising nor conclusive because a Public Relations Officer is often the ghost writer for the department or official being promoted. We accept Mr. Kirstein's own description of his contribution when he said, "Though my face may not be on the video tape, my heart, my soul and my ideas were there." That could be so of a PRO 1 or a PRO 2. But the extent of Mr. Kirstein's involvement was, as a job description admits, "TO assist in the planning, developing and arranging of the Centre's media activities . . . by planning, organizing, writing, producing and co-ordinating under direction media presentations for use by the administration and Programme Directors." Certainly the grievor assirs the expert Programme Directors and works under their direction. But the essence of a PRD 2, as opposed to a PRO 1, seems to be that the PRO 2 has a greater responsibility to initiate and develop ideas and priorities and to relay the message of the programme which is being promoted. The PRO 1 may be a necessary aspect to this but does not carry the burden of initiation an3 prioritising creative ideas. Instead, the PRO 1 allots his/her creativity to the assigned work and applies it to the methods and proceedings outlined for the project. That is not all that Mr. Kirstein has been doing and it cannot be said that the PRO 1 category adequately describes his responsibilities. Therefore, while Mr. Kirstein may not fill all the requirements of the PRO 2's responsibilities, he does not need to do that to persuade us that. that level is "the best i - 19 - fit” for his responsibilities. On the basks of the evidence before us, we are persuaded that his work does Sest fi t within the PRO 2 categorization &cause the PRO 1 level is inadequa ta. Therefore we are prepared to declare that he should be reclassified as a PRO 2. The parties have already agreed that in the event of the grievance succeeding, the effective date of the reclassification would oe July 15, 1986. We so declare and order that all necessary adjustnents be made to the grievor’s salary and records. We remain seized with this matter should the parties encounter any difficulties in the implementation of our award. DATED at Toronto, Ontario this 1st day of September, 1989 P. Knopf --- - Vice-Chairperson -- F. Collict - MemSer - - COMMENTS RE G.S.B. - #1652/87 This case involves an employee who, through his own interest, diligence, creativity and imagination has expanded the activity of an Audio Visual technician into a much broader position; and he was given the opportun- ity to expand his position by Management. This certainly has been to his credit and to the advantage of the Surrey Place Centre; but does the position he performs fall into the Public Relations Officer 1 (PROl) or the Public Relations Officer 2 (PR02) classification? This Member does agree with the statement in the award at page 15 that, “In fairness, we are convinced that the duties of the grievor do not fall squarely within the level of a PRO1 or a PRCt2.. _. . . .” Howeve c , it would seem that Mr. Kirstein’s duties do embrace most of the PRO1 classification but do, indeed, fall short of some of the very crit- ical and most demanding requirements of the PRO2 classification as set out at page 16 of the award. That is, 1’ ( a ) He does not ‘assist a Senior Public Relations Officer’. (b) He does not ‘deliver lectures’ to interested organizations.....” (c) He does not prepare or edit speeches to be delivered by senior officers.” Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Kirstein does not “Prepare or edit articles or speeches to be delivered by senior officials, undertaking the necessary research to insure accuracy of content.” (underscoring added) (Exhibit 5) 2. This Member has difficulty with the award with reference to the above as one contemplates the apparent requirement,and responsibility of a PRO2 to provide for governmental public relations matters that must be accu- rate, well researched and effectively prepared and delivered. Certainly a number of government officials through time have been embarrassed as a result of inaccuracies associated with public relation matters; but are these shortfalls in the grievor’s responsibilities fatal to his claim to the PRO2 classification? Is this the type of responsibility carried by an employee classified as a PRO2 or is a more senior public relations official responsibile for such matters? This Member is in agreement that, “All the evidence acknowledges that the grievor is called upon to use his initiative and creativity in developing the expert’s ideas and desires into the media format......” (etc., etc. - see p. 17 of award) and, II . . . . we do accept that he did play a creative role in the development of several scripts, story boards and concepts for the video and slide productions.” (p. 18 of award) Mr. Kirstein’s responsibilities have been unique. He has engaged in some original research; he has been a “one-man show”; and he has func- tioned very independently as he has made decisions associated with his work. In effect, his responsibilities have been more than merely “assistive” to his Surrey Place colleagues. In total, Mr. Kirstein does not perform all of the PRO2 responsibili- ties. However , on balance, this Member does concur that the type and 3. F. T. Collict, Member. level of responsibility he carries can be more properly assigned to the PRO2 as opposed to the PRO1 position.