Norm Pilon, OPSEU Staff Representative
[email protected]
Cell: 705-665-2216
Kiera Chion, OPSEU Organizer
[email protected]
Cell: 416-526-0330
April 2017
Labour board agrees with OPSEU: PSLTRA applies
On March 22, 2017, after weeks of careful consideration, Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) Vice-Chair Matthew Wilson issued a decision where he upheld OPSEU’s position that the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act (PSLTRA) applies to the transition of services that occurred between North Bay Regional Health Centre and Health Sciences North.
The OLRB also determined that the most appropriate voting constituency for the upcoming representation vote is the vast majority of allied health professionals who currently work at Health Sciences North. Further details on the exact classifications that will be included will be worked out through the next few weeks when OPSEU, ONA, and your employer negotiate an “access agreement” that will establish a vote date, how the vote will be conducted, and the amount of access that each union is permitted to have at the hospital.
Under PSLRTA, the law says:
OPSEU is still your union. The collective agreement that you have still covers you. It will remain in force until a new collective agreement is negotiated with Health Sciences North. The employees of HSN who recently unionized with ONA keep their union. While these ONA members do not currently have a first collective agreement, their existing terms and conditions are frozen by the statutory provisions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act.
With the assistance of the ORLB, all of the parties will determine how the vote will be conducted, and on which date.
Once the vote process determines which union represents employees, that union will enforce all of the collective agreements in place (called a “composite agreement”). The only items that change are “common provisions.” The union will negotiate the common language that will apply to seniority, job competitions, layoffs and grievance procedures. Then the union will negotiate a new collective agreement to replace the existing composite agreement.
What happens next?
Your staff PSLRTA team is working with your Local Executive Committee to plan how you will get information and provide feedback. We will be planning information luncheons and more events in the months ahead.
If you have a suggestion, or a request for someone to meet with a group, just let us know.
We will send out updates as new information becomes available.
Communication is the key!
Have a question? Send it in.
We will provide answers in our next bulletin! By sending a question, your name will be automatically entered into a draw for a prize.
If you haven’t already done so, please provide the Local with your non-work contact information (personal email address, home or cell phone).
Contact us!
Norm Pilon, OPSEU Staff Representative
[email protected]
Cell: 705-665-2216
Kiera Chion, OPSEU Organizer
[email protected]
Cell: 416-526-0330