Dufferin Grove Park

Wendy to staff nov 24

Wendy Jang via dufferinpark.ca

Nov 24 (4 days ago)

to Glen, Susan, mayssan, Margaret, Sofia Mayssan: it was our intention to have staff select shifts before the secondary rinks open - not sure why you thought the rink schedules would not change before January - no one has ever said so. However I am glad that you have considered Wallace & Campbell schedules in case we hit a glitch. I appreciate your preparation. The main glitch is that we didn't do Wallace on Tues & Michelle W-D cancelled yesterday's mtg. I have a note to her asking to meet either today or tomorrow so if you see her pls let her know my urgency & ask her to call me. I will meet with her either today, this eve or tomorrow at her convenience & would like one other staff to join us. Michelle can choose her preferred partner. I expect to have all rink shifts published by Friday & staff can choose over the weekend. Dufferin market & FNS continue as you have been scheduling. Tx

Wendy to staff Nov 25

Expectations of Staff Regarding Scheduling of Work Hours - Dufferin Grove Cluster Wendy Jang Nov 25 (3 days ago)to Margaret, Sofia The attached letter has been emailed (blind copied) to the personal email addresses of the following employees who have worked, currently work or have applied to be assigned to rink positions at Dufferin Grove Park AIR, Campbell AIR, Wallace Emerson AIR: If there is an employee whose name is not listed, please advise and I will ensure that person receives this letter as well.

The letter is self explanatory and outlines my expectations for all staff regarding appropriate scheduling of work hours and compensation for work performed. There appears to have been a misunderstanding about how work is assigned to staff.

I trust that there will be no further irregularities in staff assignments or payment for work performed. Thank you to all staff for observing the guidelines in the attached letter.

Yours truly, Wendy Jang Supervisor of Active Living Toronto East York District 416-395-0099

DATE: November 24, 2011

TO: All Recreation Workers assigned to Dufferin Grove Programs at Dufferin Grove Park & AIR, Wallace Emerson AIR, Campbell Park AIR

FROM: Wendy Jang Supervisor of Active Living – Toronto East York District

RE: Work assignment, scheduling and compensation

There appears to be some confusion about how work is assigned and compensated through Parks, Forestry and Recreation that has resulted in staff performing work without proper authorization, and concerns about being compensated for work performed. Please be advised of the following procedures:

Assignment and Scheduling

1. City work is assigned and scheduled by full time City staff, either the Community Recreation Programmer (CRP) or the Recreation Supervisor.

2. All work assigned and scheduled is to serve articulated PFR purposes, and quantified in advance.

3. Scheduling of workers may be delegated to the Dufferin Grove Program Coordinator, but the schedules must be approved by the CRP in advance of the work being performed. If you are not sure if your work is scheduled, contact the CRP, Margaret Tagaras at 416-392-1963, mtagaras@toronto.ca

4. Staff whose names do not appear on the approved work schedule must receive approval from the CRP or Recreation Supervisor, before performing the work. Be prepared to explain: a. The type of work to be performed b. The reason for the work not being included in the schedule c. The number of hours to be worked

Staff may not self-schedule at any time.

5. Scheduling of regular work for Recreation Workers must follow the "Scheduling Project" outlined in Article 28 of the Collective Agreement between the City and CUPE Local 79.

Staff replacement procedures

6. Staff who are not able to work their scheduled shift(s) and who have received advance approval from the CRP to be absent, must complete a Staff Replacement form (attached) and submit it to the CRP office at McCormick CC (fax 416-392-0309) indicating the date they will be absent and the qualified staff person who will replace the shift.

7. Replacement staff persons must come from the authorized Relief List, and must be called in order of seniority, as instructed on the Relief List. A new list will be issued for the Skating Season, commencing December 3, 2011 to March 11, 2012.

8. If staff are unable to work at the last minute due to illness or other unavoidable circumstance, staff must do the following:

Notify the City at least 3 hours before the scheduled shift, unless not reasonably possible. You may call any of the following numbers: a. Program Coordinator at Dufferin Grove Park at 647-212-3295 b. CRP at 416-392-1963 c. Recreation Supervisor at 416-991-1529. You may phone or text at this last number.

Sign in Procedures

9. Staff must sign the "DAILY SIGN IN SHEET" upon arrival at work, and sign out each and every time they go off duty. Staff who are assigned more than 4 consecutive hours will have a scheduled ½ hour unpaid meal break; staff must sign out prior to their meal break and sign back in after the meal break.

10. Staff will be required to meet with the Supervisor and may not be compensated for work performed under the following circumstances: a. Staff are not named on the work schedule and sign in sheet b. Staff fail to sign in or out on the sign in sheet c. Staff fail to get authorization in advance to do work not featured on the schedule

Staff training and attendance at meetings

11. Staff training is mandatory unless otherwise specified. Staff are compensated at their regular hourly wage for attendance at training. Note: First Aid is a job pre-requisite and is not paid training.

12. Staff who are required to attend meetings will be officially invited to attend by the CRP or Supervisor. Staff invited will be compensated for their attendance.

Other

13. Recreation Workers are employees of the City and members of CUPE Local 79, and must comply with the collective agreement between CUPE Local 79 and the City of Toronto. Please speak to the Recreation Supervisor or to the Union if you need clarification on any of the articles.

14. Persons paid by other agencies or employers, and community volunteers, may not perform work on City property that resembles any of the current work assigned to or performed by Recreation Workers. Please contact the Recreation Supervisor if you are not sure about the duties included in this statement.

Your truly, Wendy Jang attach: Staff Replacement Form Parks, Forestry and Recreation Community Recreation Branch Recreation Workers – Shift Replacement Confirmation Form If you are unavailable to work a scheduled shift, please complete this form and return it to your Community Recreation Programmer or his/her designate for approval.

Staff Name Location Date unavailable to work Shift Date Position Title Approved Scheduled Shift Start Time End Time Replacement Staff Name

Replacing Staff's signature Date

Requesting Staff's signature Date requested

CRP/Designate signature Date approved

Second Email

Hello Staff for Rink programs at Campbell, Dufferin Grove & Wallace Emerson AIR:

Attached are 2 documents that will help to confirm your shift assignments for this rink season. Once your shifts are confirmed, you will have full rights to return to those shifts in the future, as per the Scheduling Project for CUPE Local 79.

Document #1 has two parts: a) The process for you to request your shifts (pg 1-2) b) A form for you to complete (pg 3-4)

Document #2 has two parts: a) Charts of all the shifts available at each location & Coordinator shifts (pg 1-4) b) A detailed explanation of each job featured in the charts (pg 5-8)

I would like to draw your attention to a few important items:

Some of the current staff are receiving pay rates that are not approved rates for the job classifications. Document #1 explains this in detail.

Document #2 shows the correct pay rates that will be paid for these positions effective January 1, 2012.

When your shifts are confirmed, if you are currently being paid a higher rate than the one listed in Document #2, you will continue to receive your higher rate for the month of December. As of January 1, 2012, you will be paid the new correct rate.

If you are currently being paid less than the rate in Document #2, you will be paid the higher new rate.

Note that the positions listed in Document #2 are only for the Rink programs, and associated food production for the rink programs.

If you are working in programs for Pizza Day, Farmer's Market, Friday Night Supper, you can still work in those programs without completing the form in Document #1

If you want to work in the Rink programs as well as the other programs, you need to show how many hours you are already working, so that you do not exceed 40 hours per week.

These documents look rather daunting, but they are not really complicated. If you have any questions about this process, please contact me over the weekend at 416-991-1529.

We are asking you to complete the form and send it to Margaret Tagaras, by Monday at 4 pm, so that we can confirm your shift assignments by Tuesday. If you are unable to open or print this document, please advise and I will have a hard copy delivered to you this weekend.

We apologize for the lateness of this process. We spent many hours working out the programming with some of your senior coordinators.

I would like to thank Anna Galati, Marina Deluca Howard, Mayssan Shuja-Uddin, and Michelle Webb-Deveaux for the many hours they contributed to helping me understand the programs. There were others who also contributed, but these staff gave many hours and showed considerable patience in their discussions with us.

The attached letter has been emailed (blind copied) to the personal email addresses of employees who have worked, currently work or have applied to be assigned to rink positions at Dufferin Grove Park AIR, Campbell AIR, Wallace Emerson AIR.

All work performed by Recreation Workers must be scheduled and assigned by City management, in advance of the work performed. The Collective Agreement for Recreation Workers, negotiated between CUPE Local 79 and the City of Toronto, outlines the criteria for staff assignment in the "Scheduling Project" outlined in Article 28.

Article 28 indicates that

"Returning staff who have returned their scheduling forms by the due date, shall be offered the regularly scheduled work in the same program/classification, at the same location worked in the same season. If the returning employee's program is changed by the City (date/time, or relocated) the returning employee shall be offered said work."

In previous years at Campbell, Dufferin Grove, and Wallace AIRs, recreation work was not scheduled to staff as a regular scheduled assignment, or by recognized job classification. City management (through discussions with Dufferin Grove program coordinators) has created shift assignments for each of these rinks for the period December 3, 2011 to March 11, 2012. This is management's right to schedule (Article 3)

Returning staff are requested to indicate their preference for shift assignment for the Rink Season 2011 – 2012 (both Fall and Winter). If the scheduled shifts are identical in the 2012-2013 season, staff who submit scheduling forms on time in 2012 will be eligible to return to the identical shifts worked this season, as per the Scheduling Project procedures.

New staff (or staff who are new to the rink program) who are able to secure work shifts in the 2011-2012 rink program, will be eligible to return to the identical shifts in 2012-2013 as per the Scheduling Project.

The shifts for 2011-2012 will be assigned as follows 1. Shifts will be assigned based on preferences indicated on the form attached 2. Shifts will be assigned to staff in the following sequence: a. Staff returning to rink programs who submitted yellow scheduling forms on time b. Staff returning to rink programs who submitted white scheduling forms on time c. Staff returning to rink programs who submitted yellow scheduling forms late d. Staff returning to rink programs who submitted white scheduling forms late e. Current staff who did not work last fall/winter who indicated interest in rink jobs by submitting a white scheduling form 3. Staff in the above categories will be considered in order of seniority based on aggregate hours, as at May 22, 2011 (universal date used by all programs for fall scheduling) 4. Shifts shown are single days that repeat on the same day of the week for the entire season

Process to request scheduled shifts in the Campbell, Dufferin Grove & Wallace AIR programs 5. Choose as many shifts as possible, based on the days & times you are able to work, since someone more senior than you could request one of your selections before we get to your name 6. Write your requests in order of preference: #1 is the shift you want most, #40 is the job you want least 7. You may request any job classifications that are listed. If you did not do that work in the 2010-2011 rink season, we will not assign you that job first; but if you are qualified to do the work and no one else has claimed that shift, you may be eligible for assignment. 8. Any staff member that does not attend a selected shift for more than 3 weeks in a row may be asked to forfeit the shift completely. Staff are expected to attend the shift selected, at the posted times.

Activities Excluded from this exercise 9. Shifts for food programs at Dufferin Grove Park (pizza day, Farmer's Market & Baking, Friday Night Supper) are NOT included in this process. Shifts for those programs will continue to be scheduled by a collective process until Spring 2012, or possibly beyond.

Total hours to be assigned 10. Staff who work shifts in any other programs (Dufferin Grove food, or other PFR programs) must indicate on their Shift Request Form the total number of hours the staff is able to work 11. Staff will be assigned hours that will not exceed a maximum of 40 hours per week including other hours worked at other PFR programs

Job Titles and Wage Codes 12. Recreation Worker Job Classifications and Pay Codes are part of the Collective Agreement 13. Job Classifications must be directly linked to the functional work duties performed 14. Compensation levels for Recreation Worker duties must be directly related to the Job Classification worked 15. Each shift listed on the AIR schedules has an assigned Job Title, Job Classification and Pay Code. 16. The Pay Codes are the approved pay rates for the Job Classification. 17. If you were paid a different Pay Code in 2010-2011 for the work outlined in the shift assignment, you will be paid the previous rate until December 31, 2011 only. 18. As of January 1, 2012, you must be paid the correct Pay Code for the Job Classification worked. To pay staff a Pay Code that does not correspond to the Job Classification is a violation of the Collective Agreement. Please note the new Pay Code that you will receive in January 2012.

Deadline for returning Shift Request Forms is 4 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011

Return Shift Request Forms a) by email to mtagaras@toronto.ca OR b) In hard copy to Margaret Tagaras at McCormick C.C., 66 Sheridan Ave

Shifts will be assigned and confirmed on Tuesday, November 29th by telephone and/or email

If you have any further questions about this process, please contact Wendy Jang or Margaret Tagaras at email addresses: wjang@toronto.ca or mtagaras@toronto.ca You may also contact Wendy directly at 416-991-1529

Employee Name Employee Number

Total # hours you can work in one week 40 Minus Total # hours you already work in other PFR programs

Equals Total # hours you may work in AIR programs

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Complete the yellow shaded sections above. Include the hours you are eligible to work in AIR programs 2. Refer to Shift Request Schedules attached. There are separate schedules for each rink: Campbell, Dufferin Grove, Wallace Emerson 3. Each Shift has its own number. C shifts are for Campbell, D shifts are for Dufferin, W shifts are for Wallace 4. Write shift requests in order of preference: 1 is your most desired shift, 40 is your least desired shift 5. You may request any Job Title that interests you. First, you will be assigned the jobs that you did last rink season. If there are vacancies after all staff have selected, you may be eligible for other jobs as requested 6. Deadline to submit your Shift Request form: 4 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011 7. Submit form by email to: mtagaras@toronto.ca or hard copy to Margaret Tagaras at McCormick CC

Preference Shift # Job Title Location Day of the Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Staff Name: ___________________________________ Telephone Day: ____________ Eve: _______________

Email address: _________________________________

My signature below indicates that I have had a chance to review the 2011-2012 AIR shifts for Campbell, Dufferin Grove and Wallace Emerson AIR, and I have freely chosen shifts I prefer to work. I understand that shifts will be assigned in order of seniority for returning staff, based on aggregate hours as of May 22, 2011

____________________________________ _____________________________ _____________

		Staff signature						Date				Office use- HRS

Response to Anna galati

Wendy Jang

Nov 26 (2 days ago)

to Margaret, Sofia, anna_galati, heidrungk, adk.lightbody, alexconchie, aliciatfordham, amy.withers, ariel.freemanf., delucahoward, espe.currie, gingergracedean, hogtown.blues, jenny.anne.cook, lauramac.mtl, leslie.lindsay4, ltishkina, matt.leitold, me, mccallumfraser, mcshelf, monkeyspaceship, nayssam, piiiaperez, sarahcormier, tt.12.dance

I will send a new format that will be easier to understand in terms of jobs available. Technically we can just assign shifts but if folks want to suggest their preferences that's what we're asking.

A number of staff went thru this with wading pools attendant jobs so I'm not convinced that staff do not understand the process. It's the same process & shifts were assigned based on expressed preferences. I'll send out the new format. If hard copies are needed I'll have some dropped off at McCormick tomorrow.

Hi Wendy,

Your request is extremely important, and took a good deal of time for you to construct. You are the only person who can explain these documents, as no staff is aware of how these have been concieved.

Extend your deadline date by 2 weeks, and provide 2/3 meeting dates in the upcoming 2weeks. Staff need to be informed as to what the contents of your documents mean- it is very unclear. Minutes will be taken by agreed upon parties- and the minutes will need to be agreed upon . Otherwise, staff will be signing documents they don't understand. And have been forced into signing for fear of loosing their jobs and livilihood.

A brief glance at the document suggests, some workers will loose their jobs, and other workers will be compenstated for filling those shifts as of January 1st. Your attachment also suggests, that workers will not be doing the same work they have done in previouse years and will do till the end of the year. It also implies a down grade of services to the public.

note: your attachments are not in a printable format- provide hard copies, and ensure that the person deliverying the copies recieves signatures of individuals to whom they have been delivered to individually.

respectfully yours,

Anna Galati, and Marina Deluca Howard.

-please note the only person not included in the cc is James, as no information for him has been forthcoming.

Amy notes

The deadline is so short (1 business day or less?) that members are freaking out (to put it mildly). As a union person, i have a responsibility to try an answer but the situation is getting worse because of this deadline.

Members want the 4 pages of documents sent out between Friday afternoon and Saturday at 1am to be explained by the author, I can't guess all of the points that are raised, although I can explain some parts of it (i think). Although I myself have numerous questions for you.

Can you help please by extending the deadline to include more than 1 business day?

Wendy Jang to staff Nov 27

2:37 PM (4 hours ago)

to Sofia, Glen Hi folks: A few notes to help you along -

Hard copies are now at Dufferin Grove Rink House

You can email your request form to Margaret Tagaras (no need for a signature if it comes through your email) for Monday at 4 pm

The most important part of this exercise is knowing your availability and preferences for scheduling the shifts so please take the time to let us know when you are available/want to work - and where!

If you want to add notes to the form about your work preferences, do add some statements. Some of you did that with the summer wading pool shifts, and it helped us immensely.

If we don't hear back from you we will scheduling shifts for all returning staff, but it might not fit your lifestyle - better that you influence where and when you will be able to work, so send us your forms.

The issue of the changed pay codes is concerning a number of you. We can meet as a group over the next few weeks (with a Union representative present) to discuss your concerns and see if there are other options we can explore to phase in pay changes or something else. I am open to meeting with you.

I do not have the authority to make any offers or decisions outside of the existing Collective Agreement - that is the role of Local 79 (your bargaining agent) and Labour Relations for the City. But we can make recommendations or suggestions for our agents to consider.

You will still receive your current rates of pay until December 31, 2011 (or higher if you are going to a higher new rate of pay) and perhaps we can work something out with the Union & LR for the new year - again I don't make these decisions.

Please send in your forms on Monday so that we can schedule your shifts. If we do not hear from you we will make decisions on your behalf, per Management's Right to Schedule (Article 3)

Finally, you are all members of Local 79 and have the right to grieve Management's decisions at any time. Do speak to your Union Rep but don't forget to send in the forms on time. The general practice is to follow direction and grieve afterwards.

I am still available by cell phone at 416-991-1529 at any time. Wendy

Unit rep

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Forwarded message ----------

From: Amy Withers Eckert Date: Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 1:52 PM Subject: Re: Some advise... To: Mayssan Shuja-Uddin Cc: Anna Galati , Nayssam , matt leitold <>, Heidrun

Hi Mayssan, can you forward to your bcc group? sorry to bug you.

Hi there,

I have read what some who have emailed around have written, Mayssan's advice is good regarding stating "under duress, don't accept this wage rate, or job description ask for meeting. If you don't fill in the form, the union will back you as long as you ask in writing to Wendy for a meeting to explain before her deadline. Your position will be stronger if your scheduling forms are actually in on time.

Amy will contact Wendy Monday morning saying, as union rep, re the process: many staff are complaining that they don't understand, 1 business day is not acceptable, many staff want a meeting to explain the plan, I will set 2 meeting dates for her this week: wednesday 30 at 2pm and sunday 4th at 9am. I will tell her that i am concerned that staff may boycott the direction. I will ask her to pay for the 15 minutes per staff to read the form. Although Wendy finds the documents understandable the staff do not.

Amy will as union rep contact our management services rep and ask him his view on the matter. (He may already have "okayed" the situation). Generally the union would say 1) no job changes or wage changes before harmonization, 2) include the union in discussion of changes if they are necessary 3) don't make up a new scheduling process the pilot applies to the process and Wendy isn't accounting for it 4) I would like someone (mayssan/ anna g/ nayssam/ matt/ heidrun?) to call me and explain what the general "losses" here are: for instance, aprox how many staff are losing how much money, how many shifts cut or added.

Generally we may want to file grievances or take other actions.

If anyone objects to the above, let me know.

cheers, amy

Content last modified on February 25, 2022, at 11:08 PM EST