Article 29

Contracting Out

(a) The Employer and the Union share a common desire to afford the broadest possible opportunity for professional development to employees. To this end, opportunities for professional development afforded by project or duration work shall be offered to employees to the greatest extent possible, recognizing that some measure of redeployment of the professional work force may be involved. To the same end, the Employer will, to the greatest degree practicable, minimize the contracting out of work requiring services normally provided by the employees.

Where an employee is aware of opportunities available from project or duration work, the employee may bring to the attention of the Employer’s representative responsible for such project or duration work the professional expertise available to meet the needs of such work, and further to propose reasonable alternatives for deployment of the professional work force where such is necessary.

(b) The Employer agrees not to contract out any work presently performed by employees covered by this agreement which would result in the laying off of such employees, except in accordance with the following:

(i) Article 36.07;

(ii) Memorandum of Agreement # 2 – Privatization;

(iii) Memorandum of Agreement # 6 – Re: Devolution/Transfer of Ministry of Children;

(iv) Memorandum of Agreement # 7 – Re: BC Mental Health Society;

(v) Memorandum of Agreement #8 – Re: Alternative Service Delivery (ASD);

(vi) Memorandum of Agreement #9 – Early Retirement Incentive Plan and Voluntary Departure Program for Privatization; and

(vii) Memorandum of Agreement #15