OPSEU is committed to providing you with as much information as possible as the Scarborough and Rouge merger unfolds
With the approval of the Ministry of Health, the Scarborough Hospital merged with the Centenary site of the former Rouge Valley Health System to form the new Scarborough and Rouge Hospital.
The labour relations issues that result from the merger will be dealt with by the Public Sector Labour Transition Relations Act (PSLRTA). That process starts when one of the affected parties (employer or union) files an application with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB). To date, no such application has been filed. See below for more information about PSLRTA.
OPSEU knows PSLRTA! We have been through dozens of mergers and restructuring exercises in the health sector and you have a staff team assigned to your local with expertise and experience in all aspects of the PSLRTA process.
Employees who hold more than one position (TSH and RVHS) have received a letter from the hospital telling them they have to choose one job going forward. OPSEU has told the hospital a) they did not serve OPSEU properly; b) we need more information so that each member’s situation can be properly assessed; and c) there may need to be an extension of the deadline because of the first two points. We know that our members are anxious about making the right choice and we want to ensure that you have the information you need to make that decision.
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 the new (merged) hospital. The employees of the new hospital who are presently CUPE members keep their union and their collective agreement too.
The parties will meet and either agree (or have the Labour Board decide) on what the merged bargaining unit looks like and how representation rights will be determined. Until that is done, nothing changes.
Once the process determines which union represents employees, that union will enforce all of the collective agreements in place (a “composite agreement”). The only things 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.
A representation vote under PSLRTA is not a vote on a collective agreement but a vote for which union you want to represent you going forward.
If you have heard that you will “automatically become CUPE” this is simply not ture. The PSLRTA process will determine who your union is at the end of the day.
What happens next?
Your staff PSLRTA team is working with your Local Executive Committee to plan for opportunities for you to get information and provide feedback.
Information luncheons for Local 581:
December 13 – Birchmount
December 14 – General
More meetings/events will be planned for the New Year. If you have a suggestion or a request for someone to meet with a group, just let us know.
Your Local reps will attend all of the Labour Board meetings with staff once the process starts.
We will send out bulletins as new information becomes available.
OPSEU has been vocal about the merger and we continue to call on the provincial government and the hospitals to be transparent and accountable. Our work with the Ontario Health Coalition to date has helped push the Ministry to commit to some additional funding. We will continue that work to ensure that employees and services are not negatively impacted.
Communication is the key!
Have a question? Send it in. Your Local’s email address is: [email protected]
We will provide answers in our next bulletin! And your name will be 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!
Your PSLRTA Staff team
Leave a message for us at 1-844-OPSEU-4-U (1-844-677-3438) or send us an email:
Tracey Mussett: [email protected] Pauline Cheslock: [email protected] Leslie Sanders: [email protected]