Following layoffs in July, an employee from the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) has been bumped from his position for a more senior member.
Mark Evans, who has worked as a Technologist within the department of Physics for three years, went on long-term disability in 2024. Evans explained in an interview with The Journal that during his time on leave, he gradually got to a position to be able to return to work and was cleared by his medical team for reintegration, something he said his boss was “very excited” about. However, when he set up a meeting with the University in late August to discuss the return, he received the news.
“[I was told] there was a layoff, which I was unaware of, and that in the union […] they’ve this process called bumping—which does exist and is considered legal—which would allow a person with more seniority within the union, if they have the equivalent qualifications, to displace me so that they could continue to work,” Evans said.
He said his displacement was explained in a video call with Human Resources (HR) and CUPE Local 254, the union representing him. It was explained to him that he wasn’t told of his position being given away earlier, as his official return to work date was Sept. 15, meaning he wouldn’t be officially laid off and served a notice until that day. However, he’s still unsure if Sept. 15 will be his official layoff date as he hasn’t received confirmation yet.
In a statement to The Journal, CUPE 254 President Marie Edwards outlined how the collective agreement (CA) applies to employees on leave when bumping occurs. She first explained that the CA allows senior employees—with seniority determined by total length of unbroken employment at the University—who have been laid off “to bump into a position held by a less senior employee provided certain conditions are met.”
“If a person is on leave from a position that is bumped, it doesn’t affect their leave. When they return, they would be in a lay-off position.”
Edwards added that HR meets with affected members alongside a union representative, and that “the CUPE 254 CA has no language to guarantee that the position of an employee on leave cannot be bumped. Bumping is governed by seniority as specified in the CA.”
She said the union’s role is to ensure the agreement is followed, adding they can’t ensure a new position is provided in cases of bumping, but can “ensure that all Articles of the CA are upheld.”
Evans said he doesn’t fault the individual who displaced him and even supports the idea of seniority taking precedence. Instead, he criticized the lack of communication.
“At the time of the initial layoff and the second, my position was decided to have been bumped by somebody else, I should’ve gotten a notice that day.”
He explained he’ll enter the redeployment pool, which gives him first access to new internal postings, but added that he’s still concerned about whether he’ll be able to find a new position and with his disability benefits ending, he said he’s now facing immediate financial uncertainty.
“They [his insurance company] mentioned something about a one-time payment to help bridge the gap, and then after that, I would be going on to EI (employment insurance),” he said. “EI is based on a percentage of what you make, and I don’t even know yet whether that’s the percentage of what I got on disability, which is a percentage of what I made before, […] or will I get a percentage of what my actual salary is?”
Looking ahead, Evans said he will take what he called a “shotgun approach,” applying to positions inside and outside Queen’s in an effort to make ends meet.
Tags
CUPE, CUPE Local 254, EI, FAS, Layoff
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