HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-0889.Ethier.92-08-26·., ' :.!~ .~ ~ . ..,~,~ .:. 7:). ONTARIO EMPLOY£S DE LA COURONNE
':' ~'"'."""~ "~" ' CROWNEMPLOYEES DEL'ONTARIO
SETTLEMENT REGLEMENT
BOARD DES GRIEFS
DUNDAS STREET WEST, SUITE 2100, TORONTO, ONTARIO, MSG 1Z8 TELEPHONEITEL~PHONE: f, 416I 325- ~.3~8
889/91
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
Under
THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT
Before
THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD
BETWEEN
OPSEU (Ethier)
Grievor
- and -
The Crown in Right of Ontario
(Ministry of Transportation)
Employer
BEFORE: B. Kirkwood Vice-Chairperson
P. Klym Member
M. O'Toole Member
FOR THE M. McFadden
GRIEVOR Counsel
Koskie & Minsky
Barristers & Solicitors
FOR THE J. Lewis
EMPLOYER Counsel
Winkler, Filion & Wakely
Barristers & Solicitors
HEARING November ,12, 1991
Page 2 g
DECISION
The grievor is currently classified as a
Maintenance Carpenter and works at New Liskeard in the
"Services Section." The grievor claims he is improperly
classified and seeks reclassification to the Maintenance
Carpenter Foreman position, or alternatively asks the Board
to order the employer to create a new and appropriate
classification to match his duties and responsibilities.
The parties presented the panel with written
statements of facts and issues, and the grievor and his
supervisor, Mr. Trudel gave oral testimony.
The grievor has been a Maintenance Carpenter with
the Ministry since 1989. The purpose of his position as set
out in his Position Specification and Class Allocation, which
has been attached and incorporated into this decision as
Appendix A,. is to perform skilled manual work at the
journeyman level in the planning, laying-out and performance
of carpentry work in the construction, maintenance,
alteration and repair of district buildings and facilities.
The grievor admits that his Position Specification and Class
Allocation, properly describes his duties with two
exceptions. The grievor seldom forms, pours and levels
concrete for foundation floors, and he prepares, rather than
assists in the development of annual plans for maintenance
and repair.
The grievor is the sole incumbent in his district
and works with little supervision. The grievor is given
general assignments by his supervisor, Mr. Trudel and only
occasionally is given assignments by others. Mr. Trudel
visits him once or .twice a week and rarely reviews the
grievor's work.
Page 3
The grievor inspects buildings regularly to
determine if they are safe and if any repairs are needed.
On one occasion, he led Mr. Trudel on' an inspection of the
Triton Sand Storage Building which he considered unsafe and
recommended demolition of the structure. After the grievor
provided Mr. Trudel with his estimate of the costs to repair.
the building, as requested by Mr. Trude!, Mr. Trudel accepted
the grievor's recommendation. Mr. Trudel then placed him in
charge of puttinq concrete into the new building and ensuring
that the concrete matched the building plans. The grievor
has also done final inspec%ions of buildings. The grievor
also participates with Mr. Trudel in the annual inspection of
the buildings in his district.
The grievor plans all the maintenance carpentry.
He prepares estimates for the budget for the year and reviews
them qith his supervisor. The grievor acknowledged that the
final decision on what was to be done was made by his
supervisor.
The grievor routinely plans, lays out work,
establishes and prioritizes work that has to be done. The
grievor.performs repairs, estimates costs of materials and
labour.
The grievor has the assistance of Ms. Gourley on a
full-time basis, and Mr. Rutledge, for four or five months
during th~ summer. The grievor instructs and supervises
them. Sometimes the grievor begins jobs with them, but
leaves them once they are able to continue with their tasks.
He inspects their work periodically. He will· also
participate in their performance appraisal review. The
grievor has also been involued in supervising students from
the Community College Cooperative Learning program. This
program continued for two sessions of four to five weeks
Page 4
commencing January and April 1991. The grievor also
supervised two employees for a three week period, when they
painted an interior of a garage as part of the Anti-Recession
Measures Program,
The grievor makes periodic inspections of work
performed by external contractors. In 1989, the grievor~
inspected two sand storage domes at Larder Lake and Foliette,
and a salt sto~age building, that were built by external
contractors. After the grievor's final inspection, he made
recommendations to his supervisor. He has also inspected
windows installed by external contractors, made the final
inspection of a flat roof which was repaired by external
contractors and located and monitored external contractors
who removed several buried storage tanks.
The grievor testified that at least 50% of his time
is. involved in supervision. The grievor testified that
between April 1 to October 11, 1992, he recorded 268 hours in
supervision, of which 14 hours wer~ spent supervising
external contractors. As he believed hi~ budget for
supervision was only 250 hours per year, he did not record
the time he spent supervising when he was out of the office
and working with others.
The grievor estimated that approximately 40% of his
time was spent on construction, alteration and repair to the
exterior of buildings.
The Ministry disputed the proportion of time that
the grievor estimated that he spent on 'his duties. Mr.
Trudel estimated that the grievor spent 70% of his time usinq
his skills as a journeyman, 20% of his time on supervision
and the balance of his time in miscellaneous endeavours. He
was surprised with the grievor's estimation of supervision
time, as the Ministry had calculated that approximately 11%
Page 5
of the grievor's time, or 200'hours was to be allocated to
supervision.
The grievor's written statement stated that he
hired external contractors. He did not provide any oral
testimony to corroborate or support his position. Mr. Trudel
testified that the grievor was not directly involved in
hiring external contractors, who worked to plans. However,
the grievor was asked two or three times a year to hire
equipment which would be operated by external contractors.
The grievor's duties and responsibilities must be
compared to his current class standard and to that of the
Maintenance Carpenter Foreman/Woman Class Standard. The
current Class Standard for the grievor~s position of
Maintenance Carpenter states:
CT.ASS DEFINITION[
1. This class covers positions involving
skilled manual work at the journeyman tradesman
level, in the maintenance, repair or construction
of wooden structures, equipment, etc, at a
Government building, institution or other
establishment. The employees in these positions
are given general assignments by a Foreman,
Maintenance-Foreman, Buildings Superintendent or
Maintenance Superintendent, or other official
responsible for buildings maintenance or otker
service requiring skilled carpentry. According to
verbal or written instructions they are required to
carry assignments to completion according to
accepted practices and following the recognized
procedures and techniques of the carpentry or
cabinet-making trade. .These employees may
determine work methods and the work is reviewed for
adherence to plans and instruction, satisfactory
production and quality of workmanship. Duties may
also entail the supervision and instruction of
apprentices, unskilled or semi-skilled workers and
patient, resident, trainee or inmate helpers.
These employees may also be required to perform
related maintenance tasks or other duties, but at
least 60% of their work time must involve use of
the skills, at the journeyman level, of the
carpenters' or cabinet makers' trade.
Page 6
These employees construct, alter or repair interior
and exterior woodwork, performing duties such as:
hang doors; erect partitions' lay floors; build
platforms, steps, stairs, cupboards, cabinets,
shelves, tables, pig and poultry pens or hours, and
other structures; repair furniture; repair interior
and exterior fittings such as window frames, doors,
sills, wainscotting' build forms to exact size,
shape and finish; install and remove awning and
storm windows; glaze windows; construct, maintain'
and alter boards, canoes, cabins aircraft skis,
tower cabins and hangar equipment; build and repair
signs and displays; repair and install lacks and
door closers; make keys; sharpen hand tools. In
the carpentry shop these employees operate
equipment such as;- saws, jointers, planers,
sanders, drill presses, lathes and mortising
machines. They assist and co-operate with other
tradesmen and non-tradesmen staff.
OR
II. This class also covers positions where:-
{i) There is only one position, having only
one incumbent, in the carpenter's trade
at the establishment concerned;
(ii) supervision over the position is not
exercised by a position classified as
Maintenance Carpenter Foreman, and
(iii) the sole incumbent in addition to
performing the duties of a Maintenance
Carpenter (I), must estimate the
quantities of material and labour
required; plan and lay out the work;
maintain an adequate stock of supplies
on site; requisition replacements; keep
account of materials used and repairs,
fabrications, construction, inspections,
etc., effected for ~ work in the
Carpenters' trade carried out at the
establishment concerned .....
The Maintenance Carpenter Foreman/Woman Class
Standard which the union claims best fits the grievor's
duties and responsibilities states:
Page 7
CLASS ~W, FINTTiON:
Positions allocated to this class involve the
supervision of at least two tradesmen, employed at
the journeyman level, in the skilled maintenance
work related to the construction, general upkeep
and repair of wooden structures, fittings,
.. equipment etc., at a Government building,
institution or other establishment. The employee,.
in positions in this class, is given general
assignments by his supervisor and is required to
make estimates of materials, plan and lay out the
work and supervise it to completion according to
accepted methods in the carpentry trade. He
determines work methods and makes periodic
inspections of work in progress and of the premises
in general and recommends carpentry repairs where
necessary. In some positions the hiring and
supervision of local tradesmen on site of temporary
projects is involved. The work is subject to
review for satisfactory quality and compliance with
directions or with plans and specifications. These
employees may themselves perform any of the duties
of a Maintenance Carpenter. They may also perform
other tasks of a related nature by at least 60% of
their -time must be devoted to work involving
carpentry or the supervision of carpenters. In
addition to the journey tradesmen they may
supervise unskilled or semi-skilled employees and
patient, resident, trainee or inmate helpers.
Under direction the employee in positions in
this class is required to plan, lay out, supervise
and inspMct all carpentry, joining, woodwo'rking and
cabinet making work performed by journeyman
carpenters, other workers, patient, resident,
trainee or inmate helpers, at' the establishment
concerned. He may also inspect and report on the
work of outside contracting firms.
This employee supervises and inspects repairs
and alterations to the interior and exterior
woodwork of Government buildings, institutions or
establishments and related structures such as staff
houses, garages, workshops, sheds, barns, etc.; and
the construction or repair of any wooden articles,
equipment or parts within or about the buildings.
In some positions the incumbent supervises and
assists in the construction maintenance and
alteration of boats, canoes, cabins, aircraft skis,
tower cabins and hangar equipment or in the
production of exhibits and displays. These
Page 8
employees assist and co-operate with other foremen,
tradesmen and non-trades staff.
ARGUMENT
Union's counsel made two claims in the alternative.
First the grievor performed tasks and responsibilities of the.
Maintenance Foreman/Woman Class Standard. Alternatively the
tasks that the grievor performed were not captured by the
Maintenance Carpenter position and therefore the Ministry
ought to create a new classification to match the 9rievor's
duties and responsibilities.
The union claimed the grievor's responsibilities
better fit those envisioned by the Class Standard of
Maintenance Foreman/Woman as the grievor was responsible for
the execution of all work done on location. The grievor
supervised work done by external contractors and supervised
at least two other employees. Union's counsel argued that as
these two employees were performing tasks ordinarily
performed by the grievor, these employees were skilled
personnel working at the journeyman's level.
Union's counsel also argued that the grievor is
expected to carry out inspections of Government buildings and
inspect work of external contractors. These tasks are not
included in the Maintenance Carpenter standard.
Alternatively, union's counsel argued that the
Maintenance Carpenter standard anticipates that the
Maintenance Carpenter is closely supervised and his
supervision of other employees is incidental rather than
integral to the position. He argued that the emphasis in the
Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard was in "hands on" work.
Union's counsel argued the grievor was not closely
Page 9
supervised, his work was not reviewed and his supervision of
others was an important and integral part of his job.
Union's counsel argued that the grievor ~spent at
least 50% of his time supervising and not doing carpentry
work and therefore the crux of the Maintenance Carpenter
standard could not be met.
In the alternative, union's counsel further claimed
that the class standard for both the grievor's current
classification and that which he seeks have been rendered
obsolete by the 'passage of time, as the emphasis of the
grievor's work was no longer on repairs to wooden structures
as contemplated by the standard. Therefore asks the Board to
make a "Berry" thereby ordering the employer to make an
appropriate, classification.
The Ministry's position argued that the grievor was
properly classified at his present position. The grievor
spends at least 60% of his time on maintenance and skilled
duties as envisioned 'by his Class Standard. Ministry's
counsel submitted that the grievor could not be a Maintenance
Foreman/Woman, as the ~rievor did not supervise two skilled
workers at a journeyman level, an essential duty of the
Maintenance Foreman/Woman position.
Ministry's counsel submitted that if the board were
to find that the grievor's duties were not covered' by the
Maintenance Carpenter standard, the quantity, quality and
character of any other duties performed did not constitute a
significant difference to the nature of the job, such that
they ought to persuade the board to make a Berry order.
Page 10 ~
DECISION
We must first determine whether the duties and
responsibilities that that grievor performs fits his
classification or whether his duties better fit another
classification, or whether a classification must be developed
to conform with their duties. If the grievor's duties do not
properly fit any of the existing classifications, the ~oard
has the authority as in the Berry decision to instruct the
employer to create a classification.
The onus is on the union to show that the tasks,
duties and responsibilities that the grievor performs, do not
fall within the parameters of his existing class standard,
but are essentially that of another job. The duties of the
higher class standard builds upon the skills,
responsibilities and duties of the lower class standard.
Therefore when certain duties are common to both, their
inclusion in the higher level does not mean that the grievor
performs the job with the higher classification. It is the
new duties and additional responsibilities in the higher
classification that create the job with the higher
classification if they are significant enough to create a new
job. As set out in Aird et al and Ministry of Consumer
and Commercial Relations, G.S.B. %1347/87 (Sloan) at page
8:
... the addition of new duties ma.y take a job out
of its original classification, but only where
those duties are of such a kind or occur in a
degree as to amount to a different job altogether.
See for example Raldwin and Tjng, GSB 539/84
(Palmer) and E~nske, GSB 494/85 (Verity). As these
and other cases show, the propriety of the
classification is a factual issue to be decided on
the merits of each case...The onus is on the
grievor to show that he is actually performing a
job, the essence or core duties of which do not fit
Page 11
within the class standard to which 'it has been
assigned by the employer.
The union argued that the grievor's duties' were
consistent with the Maintenance Carpenter Foreman/Woman
position. Union's c~unsel further argued that the grievor's
supervisory duties were not consistent with the Maintenance
Carpenter position.
The essence of any foreman position is the
responsibility for the supervision of others. In the
Maintenance Foreman/Woman position the standard describes who
the Foreman/Woman must supervise. It states that "positions
allocated to this class involve the supervision of at least
two tradesmen~ employed at the journeyman level, in the
skilled maintenance work related to the contraction, general
upkeep and.repair of wooden Structures, fittings, equipment
etc. , at a Government building institution or other
establishment." The significance of the "journeyman level"
is emphasized by the statement that "In addition to
journeyman tradesmen they may supervise unskilled or semi-
skilled employees and.patient, resident, trainee or inmate
helpers ."
It is clear from the Preamble and the Class
Standard of the Maintenance Foreman/Forewoman that three
elements are required to qualify for this class standard. As
summarized by Vicechair Fisher in OPSEU(Larmand) and The
Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of
Transportation) G.S.B. % 0887/8'6:
1. There must be supervision of at least two
persons;
2. These two persons must either be journeymen,
that is skilled labour in the relevant trade
class or qualified local tradesmen;
Page 12
3. Supervision of either ~h~ journeymen and/or
tradesmen must cover at least 60% of the
year.
Notwithstanding the union's submission that the
standard sh6uld be interpreted to include the supervision of
those who perform the same maintenance tasks as the grievor
who worked at a journeyman level, both the grievor and his.
supervisor agreed that Ms. Gourley and Mr. Rutledge did not
work at the journeyman level. As the supervision of persons
at the journeyman level is key to the foreman position, even
if the grievor were to perform other tasks of the Maintenance
Foreman/Forewoman Class Standard, the failure to supervise at
least two persons at the Journeyman level places the grievor
outside this Class Standard.
The Preamble, which is incorporated into this
decision as Appendix "B", also considers the criteria for a
foreman to be met, if "the duties involve the hiring and
supervision of qualified local tradesmen, on the site, for
the duration of a specific project. Such positions may be
allocated to the pertinent Foreman class provided that
supervision of two or more local tradesmen is required for at
least 60% of the year." The hiring and supervising of local
tradesmen is also echoed in the Maintenance Carpenter
Foreman/Woman Class Standard.
There are three components to this criteria:
1. The employee must be involved in the hiring of
at least two externa.1 tradesmen;
2. The employee must supervise these tradesmen; and
3. The supervision must be for at least 60% of the
year.
Page 13
There was no eVidence that the grievor hired local
tradesmen, although the employer conceded that the grievor
would hire equipment that would have to be operated by local
contractors three or four times a year. There was no
evidence that the work continued for at least 60~ of the year
as required by the preamble. The local tradesmen were used
on temporary projects. The inspection records indicated that'
inspections were carried out by the grievor in August and
December 1989. Therefore the grievor's role with respect to
hiring and supervising local skilled tradesmen cannot support
his classification as a Maintenance Carpenter Foreman/Woman.
The union contended that as the grievor spent at
least 50% of kis time in supervision, tke grievor could not
spend at least 60% of his time using his journeyman skills.
The grievor estimated that he spent 40% of his time using
"hands on" journeyman skills.
We accept the grievor's evidence that he spent more
time in supervision than he recorded on his daily maintenance
sheet, but we do not find that he spent less than 60% using
his skills at a journeyman level. The grievor did not
distinguish supervision time from "hands on" time when he was
working away from the office. Tke grievor estimated that an
additional couple of hundred hours was spent in supervision.
Even accepting the grievor's evidence, approximately 25% of
his time would be spent in supervision. In addition, as the
grievor stated and which was not disputed by Mr. Trudel,
inspecting buildings, and assessing them for repair are par~
of using his journeyman skills.
The grievor is the sole incumbent. As the
Maintenance Carpenter Class standard states, he has the
responsibilities of the sole incumbent in addition to the
responsibilities'described in part I of the Class standard as
the description of the responsibilities of the sole incumbent
Page 14 ·
Maintenance Carpenter states: "the sole incumbent in addition
to performing the duties of a Maintenance Carpenter (I),..."
The.supervisory functions of Ms. Gourley, Mr. Rutledge and
persons such as students and painters are contemplated in the
Maintenance Carpenter class standard-by reference to the
supervision of unskilled or semi-skilled workers in "Duties
may also entail the supervision and instruction of.
apprentices, unskilled or semi-skilled workers and patient,
resident, trainee or inmate helpers." Therefore, the
responsibility for work performed by the grievor and the work
performed by Ms. Gourley, Mr. Rutledge, the students and the
employees under the Anti-Recession Program is within the
scope of a Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard. The
supervision of these persons includes the duty to ensure that
they know how to perform their assigned tasks and the duty to
make inspections of their work to ensure that their work
meets the ~equired standards.
Although the grievor makes estimates of materials,
establishes and prioritizes work assignments which are
carried out either by himself or with the assistance of Ms.
Gourley and Mr. Rutledge during the summer months, these
tasks are specifically described in the general description
and in the description of the responsibilities of the sole
incumbent Maintenance Carpenter when it states: "the sole
incumbent ... must estimate the quantities of material and
labour required; plan and lay out the work;...". These tasks
are common to both the Maintenance Carpenter and the
Maintenance Foreman/Woman position and are not additional
tasks that differentiate the two positions.
The grievor inspect s Government buildings,
determines the repairs to be done, prioritizes the work, and
ensures that either he or his assistants accomplish the work
to the Ministry's standards in the normal course of his work.
Due to the grievor's journeyman skills he is able to make
Page 15
recommendations on needed repairs. Mr. Trudel relies upon
him fo'r information on the status of the structures.
Inspection of Government buildings and structures is a core
function of the grievor's job. The grievor also inspects the
external contractors' work. The grievor does this type of
work on a regular basis and also is responsible for ensuring
that the work conforms with the plans. These inspection.
functions are included in the Maintenance Carpenter
Foreman/Forewoman class standard in the responsibilities of
the sole incumbent, when it states, "inspections, etc.,
effected for all work in the. Carpenters' trade carried out at
the establishment concerned..."
The classification of a position does not assess
the qu~iity of the employee's performance; but assesses the
requirements for the position. As Mr. Trudel requires the
grievor Go make create budgets, and plan all the carpentry
for the area, and make recommendations to him, those duties
become duties of the job. Although a large percentage of the
time was not spent in these areas of the job, the nature of
these responsibilities however, were significant functions of
this job. These functions require a level of responsibility
that is not contemplated by the Maintenance Carpenter Class
Standard. The Maintenance Class Standard creates a system
whereby the maintenance carpenter receives general
directions, written or verbal instructions from another and
the carpenter ensures that they are carried out either by
himself of with the assistance of others. As a sole
incumbent, he has greater responsibilities, as he acts with
little supervision and maintains his' area in good repair.
However,' there is not as great breadth in the description of
the grievor's current class standard to include making
assessments, .estimates, creating budgets and making
recommendations that he is required to do.
Page 16
The Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard also does
not provide for hiring of equipment which is then operated by
local contractors. The Maintenance Carpenter Foreman/Woman
position more accurately describes these functions of the
grievors when it states: "the~ hiring and supervision of local
tradesmen on site of temporary projects is involved. The
work is subject to review for satisfactory quality and
compliance with directions or with plans and specifications."
The grievor's functions in this area go beyond the scope of '
inspecting, which function is included in his class standard.
Although the time spent on these functions is not
great, the nature and quality of the functions significantly
change the nature of the grievor's job. These additional
duties are outside the grievor's current classification.
Although these tasks are referred to in the Maintenance
Carpenter Foreman/Woman Class Standard, the grievor does not
supervise employees working at the journeyman level, a
necessary feature of that standard. Accordingly the grievor
cannot be classified as a Maintenance Carpenter
Foreman/Woman. We therefore uphold this grievance and make a
Berry order directing the employer to create a new and
appropriate classification for the grievor ' s position
effective from twenty-days prior to the filing of the
grievance,
Page 17
We will remain seized in the event there is any
difficulty with the implementation of this decision.
D~ted at Toronto, this26thday of August , 1992.
B. A. Kirkwood, Vice-Chairperson
Peter Klym, Union Member
"I Partially Dissent" (partial dissent attached)
Michael O'Toole, Employer Nominee
f '~ Po~IIIOil SpectllcnUon & CiDss ^llochllo,l.CSC 0150
colllj~Jl LlO[I
~ [NTEHA~CE CARI;[,'i'ER ] ~- 573S-2f,
I'~4~SFOflTATI O~ NOR'rIII{RN
i ~ Seasg.a[ i .,ervi,:e5 .]upervi~nr
per~otm sk~JJe~ mo.ua~ york aC Lhe jo,.'.erma,. [eve[ i. Lhe pI...in~,' Jail.g-out
b~ildi~Os a.d
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- (ormins, poi~ti.8 a.d levellin8 cc,,icl'eCe tut (oufidatiofl /loor~ llJstalli.g
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crates.
- shl,gl[ng reels, repairS,g salt sheds ami domes, reJtOil'JJlS/rel:[acill~ JIardvare SLJCh
as locks, hinse4 and glass;
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o~erhead doors, insCalli.8 vid{do~, dnurs end i.,suln:io.s;
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- re.o~acin8 buildS-8 l.tertor~, i
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lvhtg record aad a~ H')'0 ol~ratur~s i~'rmtt. Coed ~urki,~fi ~.o~Jed~e .[ Luols, eq.ipme. L.
thuds and practice~ ~ the car~,j[rv Lrade .... /2
~ocks under general supervision and cat-rios' ou~ assignments
v~th all accepted practices and wikhin saEety standards.
Provides :raining'and guidance to apprentices and seasonal help.
hlstructlo,ls for compietl.g l'orm CSC-6150
' Cade
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Ins[motions
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[ PerJorms other ~e.eru[ thi[~s such
t - ensur/n8 compltaflce v[th bull~Lf, g codes o.41 ~orkp~ce safety sca, ndatds;
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heLper~ o,~ seaso~at
$- ~tnLat~J.8 records o[ ~[erial, ~qulp~n~ arid Jobo.r used;
::~I 'ell serviced ~nner;
~ operatin~ service velllc[es used lot trauspartJ.~ t~ols arid ~lertnla.
~ &. Participates ~n the preparntJon nml revLev o( Periorea.ce
~IL~ & XH~E (co,,C'~)
Co la~ouC end or;ontze ~ork ~ro~ co,,scruct&on bluepr/nts n,d specl[tca~lo,,~.
to train and L.strucc sta~E. ~flovJedge o[ Job related
'aret7 requtreme.ts. Hnfl.a[ dexcerlt2 vic', the ut,]LtL7
'ofl~tt~ofls end a~ hetgllCs, l)hyslcal cnpobilLty to I,ur~orm
't: '
l~oc~ ~-~.~e elis.es ~olve ~t~ce work ~, ~ o~ ~ &.
~ p~a~lto~ ~or ~*i~o~ ~ere "~e~ B~d" ~e8 are re~r~.
~e ~a~e~ee ~ec~anic ~e~es,' Bowever, 'consists ~ four levels:
~elper, ~prover. Jou~ey~n ~ M&~e~ce Fore~. ~i~ eerie~
.
to' a jou~ey~ level ~,i~on, provided a vacancy e~sts ~ a~ '
.,.TO cover atmation~ where ~ere is a ~c~irem~ for ~ skills a~ a
partic~ar cra~e but where such skill~ are ~e~ire~ fo~ less ~an 60%
~t specific trGde, . · · . "
To provide for su~e~iso~ responsibilit~ over a var~e~ of
=a~er ~an ~o~e of on~ spec~ied sk~ed ~rade.
specific trade, e,~.. repair o[ tripods ~d survey c~Gins, ~e~ir
~/nt~ of b~i~ges; re,air ~ re-fini~hin~ of canoes an~ boats;
~ ~st cases, i~ ~l of ~ese c~asses, to ~ali~y for ~he fore~n
relev~t ~rades c-[~ss, In some ~sitiofls however, ~e duties involve
~e
P~m~mble -
.. tc~e ~m~e of ~y st ~e ~rk projects ~e~ired o~ ~.[~aa ~eca~ '
~ ~eie claslet, a zela~vel~ l~tje ~er o~ ~oca~ons ~!, ~nev~bly,
~ a~c~ .M a $rea~r or ~el~r.desfee. T~ ~easo~g'~o~'o~d ~
· e~ ~e du~es of ~ &~ica/~e[~ous ~o ~e ~d a~ level ~ 8~110
c~[ed [or by ~e d~on o~ ~e class .a~ed, shoed be caref~ly dot--anted
S~oo[, A~t Occupa~oa~ Castro, ~e~tor7, Tra~g SC~I or ei~ar
m.~mtions, ~e ~bea:a may be provid~ ~ pa~ent, resi~eh~ trainee
temper~ent'an~ so far as is ~ssible, to ~re~ do~ ~e ~rk ~to
~eJ~ helpers are ca?able of perfor~. T~is supervision of patient, resident,
'trainee or i~te heI~rs ~oe~ no~war~$~t allocation ~o ~e ~ore~ class,
trades class must be' ~pervised to warrant ~e Foreman alloca~on.
EXCLUSlON$:
~n sore. positionS, ague of ~e ~u~s ~Uvo[ve a ~e~e o{ ~e ~ki[~ or
skills' usually associate~ wf~ one or more of ~e sk~le~ trades. ~owever,
Such ~si~ions are covered b~ special 'classes or cI~ss series such
Agricultural Wbrk~r; Electronics le~nicia~: ~lectr~nico
~[~hway ~qutpment ~erator; Lineman; Sign PGinter; Ranter etc., and are
excluded from ~e ~ten~nce Tr~es
Ja_n_,~a?y _ 19~7
PARTIAL DISSENT
RE: 889/91 OPSEU (Ethier) and the Crown in Right of Ontario
(Ministry of Transportation)
I concur in the determination by the majority that the
Maintenance Foreman/Woman Class standard does not fit the grievor's
job. However, I disagree with their conclusion that the grievor's
job falls outside the Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard.
The majority reason to the above conclusion (at page 15) on
the basis that the grievor is required to create budgets,~ plan all
the carpentry for the area and make recommendations to his
supervisor and that these functions are in addition to, and
require a level of responsibility, that is beyond the Maintenance
Carpenter Class Standard. The Majority also find that the
grievor's duty of hiring equipment for use by local contractors is
outside the scope of the Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard.
The analysis of the majority is directed to the issue of
whether the above added duties are of a quality that is
substantially different from that contemplated by the Maintenance
Carpenter class Standard. The majority are quite correct in so
directing their analysis. In my opinion, however, their analysis
fails to appreciate the true breadth of responsibility envisaged by
the Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard and, in particular, Part
II, sub-clause (iii) thereof dealing with sole incumbents. In
support of this submission i will measure against the latter
provision each of the added duties referred to above.
BudGet Creation
Admittedly, this duty is not expressly set out in
sub-clause (iii). I submit, however, that 'it necessarily inheres
in a bundle of duties that is expressly mentioned,- namely,
"estimate the quantities .of material and labour required; plan and
lay out the work; maintain an adequate stock of supplies on site;"
Read as a whole this description has a very broad scope.
Essentially, it sets out all the basic skills involved in preparing
a budget. Stated differently, an individual having the above
skills is capable of creating a budget. Therefore, it is not
unreasonable to interpret the Class Standard as implying the
ability, to create a budget.
The above approach is consistent with the following criteria
for classification set out by Vice-Chair Roberts at page 7 of
Parker 1528/88, (and approved by Vice-Chair Low at page 8 of Booth
192/90 and by Vice-Chair Fisher at page 5 of Boulanqer I 1038/90),:
,,in classifying a job, the "Typical duties"
set forth in the class standard are not the
sole determinants of classification.
Consideration also is given to whether a
class Standard is most appropriate to a job
in terms of level of responsibility,
complexity and qualifications of
incumbents."
The evidence in the case at hand falls far short of establishing
any substantial difference between the level of responsibility,
complexity and qualifications required to create a budget and that
required to perform the express duties referred to above.
Planning Ail Carpentry
I submit, first, that this duty 'is, in essence, included in
budget creation and, accordingly, the comments made above apply.
If I am wrong with respect to the above, I submit that this
duty is expressly captured by the words "plan and lay out the work"
as well as by the words "keep account of materials used and
repairs, fabrications, construction, inspections, etc., effected
for all work in the Carpenters' trade carried out at the
establishment concerned..." The term "all work" in the latter
phrase casts the widest possible net in terms of carpentry work and
therefore surely captures the planning of such work.
Making Recommendations
I submit that this duty is inherent in each of the functions
specifically enumerated in sub-clause (iii). In other words, the
requirement to perform a function necessarily implies a requirement
to make recommendations with respect thereto. Moreover, the
majority themselves implicitly recognize this (at page 14) when
they state "Due to the grievor's journeyman skills he is able to
make recommendations on needed repairs."
Hiring E~uipment
It would appear that this function is performed quite
infr. equently. Moreover, there is no evidence that it requires a
level of skill or responsibility that is substantially different
from that contemplated by the Maintenance Carpenter Class Standard.
In conclusion, I do not regard the above duties of the
grievor as significantly altering the core or essence of his job.
In the result, I would have found that the grievor's current
classification is proper and dismissed the grievance.
M. O'Toole, Member
July 30, 1992