Ambulance Divisional Executive Spring 2012 Summary

March 21, 2014

Summary March 26 and 27, 2012

March 29th – Day of Awareness. Letter from Smokey Thomas. Potentially a loss of 10,000 public sector jobs as a result of the Drummond report. Members asked to wear black and also download and distribute information from OPSEU in the workplace.
Hours free from work between employers. A legal opinion has been obtained. Essentially, the employer has no right to create any policy that prevents any member from holding secondary employment, or has any effect on an employee own hours free from work.
Ambulance essential services agreement. New information obtained from Eric O’Brien following Jamie’s review of Ontario Government Hansard records from 1999 when the Essential Services Legislation was tabled and debated for Ambulance Services. A template will be prepared for distribution to Locals.
Convention Caucus. Thursday April 19th in the Region 3 hospital suite.
Discussion of post card campaign. To be distributed both electronically and through regular mail. Spring theme (hypothermia)
Report-back sheets reviewed for meetings with municipal officials. To be posted on OPSEU website for accessibility.
Over 900 e-mail sent out to municipal officials (mayors, reeves, councilors etc), followed by regular mail follow-up letters. Some responses have been received. Jamie has prepared an additional follow-up letter (to municipal leaders).

Brant County: Duty to accommodate as third person was upheld
Hamilton: Employer is denying members Emergency Personal Leave (as per the Employment Standards Act) after using 10 sick days (negotiated) in the workplace.
Hamilton: Meal break arbitration still ongoing.
Simcoe County: Negotiations broke down in February. Mediations are scheduled to occur this week.
Simcoe County: Two grievances scheduled for arbitration. One for maternity top up. Employer is denying top-up benefit for part-time staff. Second involves in lieu for part-time. OMERS participation is mandatory. The employer is requiring staff to pay employee and employer’s contributions.
Simcoe County: Red light camera arbitration scheduled for May 4th.
Frontenac: Grieving new JBS system where Employer is paying OT to the minute.
Frontenac: LHIN’s promoting taking transfers (code 1 and 2’s) from EMS and contracting out to private provider. Similar scenario occurring in Grey County.

3 year deal effective April 2011, wage increases 1, 2, 2% each year.
Progressive decrease in time Manager working on cars. To be completely off cars within 5 years or earlier if present Manager retires.
Employer to pay up to $1,000 personal auto insurance deductibles for losses incurred due to on-call responses.
$5 non-taxable per diem extra for every call out.
Increases to on call rates; $5.40 (2011), $6.20 (2012) and $7.00 per hour (2013).

Tentative agreement reached last week. Details not released, but negotiating team is recommending acceptance. Ratification vote to be held on March 29th

Questions or clarification please contact the respective director.