Randi H. Abramksy

The Union filed a policy grievance alleging the Employer violated the collective agreement by assigning 'change-offs' to standby bus drivers at the sixth hour of their shift.

The Union argued that a change-off is a 'task' rather than a 'specific piece of work' and therefore cannot be assigned at the sixth hour.

The Arbitrator dismissed the grievance, finding that the collective agreement's broad definition of standby work, the historical practice of assigning change-offs to standby drivers, and the purpose of protecting service supported the Employer's right to make such assignments, provided the supervisor reasonably believes the work can be completed within the driver's remaining spread limit.

The union grieved the employer's deduction of 11.18 excess vacation credits from the grievor at the end of the year pursuant to Article 46.5 of the collective agreement.

The grievor had failed to use his excess vacation time despite reminders and his subsequent request to carry over the excess was denied because he did not provide an adequate plan to reduce the time or an explanation for why it was not used.

The Grievance Settlement Board dismissed the grievance, finding that the collective agreement places the obligation on the employee to reduce accumulated vacation to the maximum allowable accrual by year-end, and the employer's decision to deny the carryover request was reasonable under the circumstances.