December 2016
It has been an eventful and jam-packed year for everyone at Local 659. We’ve wrapped up Central bargaining for our paramedical unit and are currently in the process of scheduling dates with management for local bargaining. As well, we continue to deal with the changes that have come with the merger of North Bay Regional Health Sciences and Health Sciences North.
Here’s a recap of a few developments:
Bargaining update:
OPSEU successfully the following across the board wage increases:
Effective April 1, 2016 – 1.4 per cent wage increase
Effective April 1, 2017 – 1.4 per cent wage increase
Effective April 1, 2018 – 1.4 per cent wage increase
Retroactivity:
Current employees on staff from the date of the settlement will be paid retroactively within four pay periods from September 7, 2016. Retroactivity will be paid on wage increases, including any payments based on wage rates (e.g. per cent in lieu, vacation pay and SUB).
Bargaining of Local Issues:
Your employer recently reached out to OPSEU to set up dates to commence bargaining for local issues in January 2017.
Updates from Local 659:
- Ongoing dialogue with management at Labour Management Committee meetings with regards to workload and scheduling issues
- OPSEU successfully brought to management’s attention that there were delays in processing HOOPP buybacks for our members
- OPSEU members identified post merger miscalculations in employee start dates. Your local executive has an ongoing commitment with management to address these technicalities.
- OPSEU continues to make progress with your employer in finalizing the pay equity plan for our members that will ensure various classifications will be brought up to the appropriate salary grids.
In terms of the merger, OPSEU and your employer remain committed to moving the process forward. Unfortunately, in the Ontario Nurses Association’s submissions to the Ontario Labour Relations Board
(OLRB) dated November 29th, 2016, ONA claims claims that the transfer of services and positions from the North Bay Regional Health Sciences to Health Sciences North does not fall under the purview of the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act.
ONA’s most recent position in that regard is inconsistent with the settlement agreed to by all the parties back in April 2016 regarding ONA’s certification application. As a result, all of the parties met in Toronto on November 24th, 2016 at the Ontario Labour Relations Board in order to address an Unfair Labour Practice Complaint that was filed by your employer against ONA.
In the very near future, all of the parties will be meeting on Feb. 2nd at the OLRB for a consultation. We will be providing updates following that meeting as well.
In the meantime, we will be holding a Holiday Celebration to thank you for your ongoing hard work and to celebrate the holiday season. Please feel free to drop in to either locations on the following dates:
Wednesday, December 14th, 2016
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Fromagerie Elgin, 5 Cedar St.
Thursday, December 15th, 2016
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Health Sciences North, main site, 41 Ramsay Lake Rd.
Lecture Room A and B
Feel free to drop in for a bite and say hello! There will be OPSEU holiday goodie bags on a first come, first serve basis!
In the coming months of the New Year, I am going to call upon all of you to roll up your sleeves and stand together with your coworkers in the paramedical unit. We will continue to keep you posted and I wish you all a very happy holidays with your family and friends and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2017!
In solidarity,
Local 659 Executive Committee
We are launching a new Communications Program for OPSEU members at Health Sciences North
Your union has:
IMPORTANT NEWS
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR UNION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR INPUT
In the coming months, we will be issuing a CONNECT bulletin to provide updates, notifications, and information. There will also be requests for your input and feedback on a number of issues.
In order for every single OPSEU member at HSN to get this crucial communication,
We Need Your Assistance and Involvement.
Every department needs at least one person named as the CONNECT contact for that area. That person will receive all bulletins and will be asked to share it with all of the members in their area. A department can have more than one person named to the CONNECT network.
NOTE: This is a new program outside of the Local’s other elected committee functions. You do not need to be a steward or a member of another LEC committee. You simply want to be in the know and to share information with co-workers. Your elected local representatives will continue with all of the great work they do for the members.
Announcements:
- Bargaining update: Your employer and OPSEU will be selecting dates to commence bargaining for local issues in January 2017.
- Local President attends meeting for Pay Equity
- OPSEU has filed an inclusion grievance claiming that the following positions fall within the parameters of our existing bargaining unit:
“ACS Technician, Child and Youth Counsellor, Intervention (Intravention) Worker, Planner Care Transitions, Planner Spec Resp Serv, Clinical Behavioural Specialist (Therapist), Behavioural Intervention Specialist”.
Season’s Greetings from your friends at OPSEU
Essential Information about your union
Did you know?
OPSEU represents over 25,000 paramedical professionals in over 80 hospitals in Ontario. OPSEU’s Hospital Professionals Division includes over 20 different classifications.
Contact Us
If you would like any further information, don’t hesitate to email or phone us below:
Norm Pilon, OPSEU Staff Representative Email: [email protected] Cell: 705-665-2216
Kiera Chion, OPSEU Organizer Email: [email protected] Cell: 416-526-0330