Right now, GM is planning on paying the 6 months payment the first week of February.
On top of this, almost everyone will be getting 6% vacation pay on top of this – GM is trying to include this payment in the same week. This is strictly due to ESA. Employment standards states GM must pay us 16 weeks’ pay, our contract says it must be 26 weeks, which is why you’re getting the greater benefit of 6 months’ pay.
By ESA standards all normal deductions must come off the pay – this includes EI, CPP, Union Dues, etc. If you don’t want to pay the union dues portion, that is fine, please inform us that you are not interested in the 6 months pay, and you won’t have to pay union dues. This is the same Union that is getting you paid 26 weeks pay, not 16 weeks as per ESA rules. And to be honest, I did reach out to GM to try and mitigate the union dues and asked them to allow our members not to have to pay the union dues on the 6 months, but they must follow ESA guidelines – therefore the union dues must be paid.
ESA also states the 6 months’ pay is not considered hours worked- it is hours that have to be paid. This means the 6 months’ pay does not count towards future vacation entitlement, etc.
Woodstock Jobs – so far 65 members have signed up for the Woodstock jobs. One 1 person in the top 60 has applied. That, of course can change, but that is registrations so far.
Mike Van Boekel