GDPA: Reduction in Support Staff Work Force

It is the policy of the Board to rely on natural employee attrition  when reducing the support staff work force.  All collective agreements provide procedures for the reduction of the number of employees covered by that collective agreement, either for the reason of lay-off or for other policies of the Board. 

Technological change must be provided for in every collective agreement as a mandatory clause in accordance with the Labour Relations Code of British Columbia.  The code lays down minimal standards, but most collective agreements contain provisions that enlarge on them. 

The concomitant provision to reduction in support staff is a rehiring provision. Rehiring provisions inevitably parallel lay-off provisions in all collective agreements. Generally,  rehiring provisions require that employees in lay-off status shall be rehired prior to the hiring of new employees. 

Note: Policy GDH Support Staff Seniority carries additional information about contractual clauses pertaining to lay-off and rehiring in cases of reduction in force. 

DMT Responsibility: AS-HR