To The Point: October 2022
OPSEU/SEFPO Sector 19 Newsletter
Download a printable PDF version here. Greetings Sector 19 members! Your Sector Executive has been working hard to promote the Blood Services and Diagnostics sector and we have some exciting announcements to share.
Congratulations to OPSEU/SEFPO Local 298
Congratulations to OPSEU/SEFPO Local 298 – LifeLabs Couriers working in Thorold, Kitchener and Brantford for achieving their First Collective Agreement! We welcome you to OPSEU/SEFPO and Sector 19.
CBS Pay Equity Update
We know that CBS Sector 19 members have been asking lots of questions about Pay Equity. As we last reported in our
June newsletter, after a prolonged delay in receiving a response from Review Services at the Pay Equity Commission, our legal counsel sent a formal letter to request a decision or order about the complaint. This application had an impact as Review Services has now provided us a decision. Unfortunately, the
decision was not the one we were hoping for. Here is a Summary: Unfortunately, the Review Services Officer has found no contravention to the Pay Equity Act and has sided with the Employer, that it is their responsibility to maintain the pay equity plan(s). We are currently reviewing the Notice of Decision and seeking legal advice before filing a new application with the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal to look to challenge this decision. As further details become available, we will keep the membership up to date.
Save the date – December 8:
Sector 19 Bargaining Mobilization Strategies Conference
Your Sector Executive put in an Executive Board Proposal, which was approved to have two members from each of the CBS, PHO, LifeLabs and Dynacare Locals attend a Sector Conference. This proposal was put together with the consideration that almost all groups are going into bargaining in 2023 or 2024. This Conference will be important to build connections with other Locals, formalize a sector-wide strategy for bargaining, (re)introduce members to the different departmental supports that they can access, and go over the six steps of structured organizing. A formal call-out will be coming out soon with details on how to register. The Highest Ranking Member and one ‘organic leader’ will be invited to attend from each Local. In solidarity, Geoff Cain (Chair),
[email protected]Local 160 – Canadian Blood Services Shah Nawaz (Vice Chair),
[email protected]Local 545 – Public Health Ontario Sarah Dupuis (Member at Large (CBS)),
[email protected]Local 619 – Canadian Blood Services Jennifer Johnson (Treasurer),
[email protected]Local 5103 – Canadian Blood Services Hannan Battah (Member at Large (PHO)),
[email protected]Local 545 – Public Health Ontario
