Category: Office

Woodsworth Housing Co-op

Board of Directors October 21, 2022

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Since 1980, Woodsworth’s onsite On-call System has been an integral part of the Co-op’s off-hours operations. The changes we are making now will ensure that this invaluable service will continue to operate on-site.

On-call responds to emergency maintenance, medical, safety and security telephone calls from Co-op members. They also carry out routine nightly safety and security checks of Co-op grounds, and provide access to Co-op property, including unit lock- outs. Under the new system these tasks will continue to be performed by On-call.

What is changing?

•  Effective November 30th, Woodsworth will no longer employ and make payments to On-call members. Furthermore, starting on December 1st On-call members will be employed by, and will report to our property management company.

•  Homestarts has its own Manager’s Answering Service, and we are combining our own On-call system with theirs. Going forward, Homestarts will manage and oversee the new integrated system.

•  Current On-call members, as well as all other residents from the community, will be eligible to apply for the new On-call positions. More information, on how to apply, will be available soon.

•  In the future, should the Board of Directors decide to hire a different management company, oversight of the co-op’s on-site on-call services would be part of the new management contract.

Why?

There are two big reasons for handing over responsibility to our management company.

1]  On-call payments are not honorariums and On-call members are not volunteers. They are permanent co-op employees who are issued T4s by Revenue Canada. CPP and EI are deducted from their paycheques, and the co-op pays vacation pay to them, as required by law. This has been the case for several years.

The current situation is untenable. Under our Occupancy Bylaw #82, Woodsworth members are prohibited from being permanent employees of the co-op.

2]  The second reason is that the Board of Directors is responsible for governing the affairs of the co-op, but it does not manage the co-op or its staff. A volunteer board which meets bi-weekly simply cannot oversee and manage the work of the On-call employees.

The after-hours emergency response system is vital to the co-op, and it requires accountability and oversight. This is especially true given that it costs over $25,000 per year to run it. Sadly, the Board has not been able to provide the necessary oversight.

Is the new On-call system compatible with our bylaws?

Yes, the new system is allowed under Occupancy Bylaw #82. While section 17.4 (a) states, “a permanent employee of the co-op cannot be a member of the co-op,” an exception is given in Section 17.4 (b) which says that (a) does not apply to members “who are employed by the management company or another contractor of the co-op.”

Will the new on-call system be different from the old system?

No, the new system will essentially remain the same. The On-call telephone number will be the same. The On-call system will continue to be made up of residents from the co-op community.

The tasks performed will be the same. These are listed in the new Woodsworth On-call Guideline. The guideline will be posted on the co-op website, and the Bylaw & Policies Binder located in the outer Office. It is also being published in next week’s issue of The Weekly.

What will be different?

The biggest difference will be that the system will be more transparent and accountable. But we’ve also added two new important tasks:

• Accommodation: in situations where a member is unable to fill out a Work Order, the On-call member will complete it on their behalf.

• Community check-ins: during off hours, when a family member, friend, or neighbour is worried about a member’s safety or well-being, they can phone On-call who will check in on them; and when there is a co-op wide emergency, On-call will check in on a list of members who may require assistance.

What happens next?

Any resident interested in doing paid On-call shifts should contact the Office for more information.

Woodsworth residents who need On-call services will continue to call the same telephone number as before – (416) 809-7851 (Evenings after 5pm & weekends only)

Every co-op household will soon receive an Emergency Numbers fridge magnet which provides clear information to members about who to contact in case of an emergency. The fridge magnet includes the On-call number.

NOTE: As of January 2023, the On-Call phone number is (877) 858-1110 ‬extension 4

GUIDELINES:
https://www.woodsworthcoop.ca/index.php/on-call-service-guideline/