With a near-unanimous vote in favour of ratification, members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 133 employed by the Canadian Mental Health Association – Oxford, have approved a tentative contract deal negotiated earlier this week.
“I am very pleased to announce that our members have voted 99 per cent in favour of the deal we worked out with our employer,” said Tischa Forster, president of Local 133 which represents about 50 CMHA workers in Woodstock, Tillsonburg and Ingersoll. “Health care workers in Ontario face two years of zero wage increases, but we are very satisfied we received enhancements that will cover the third year of the three-year deal.”
Enhancements in the third year include a first-ever dental plan for staff and their families; $750 to a health spending account with pension rollover options; an increase of eight-cents in mileage expenses; a two per cent hike in wages and improvements to the members’ benefits package.
Forster said the contract settlement demonstrated solid support by members to the new CMHA-Oxford executive director, Mike McMahon, who made it clear he sought a negotiated settlement without the need for job action, and his recognition of employees’ work on behalf of the agency which supports and assists the people of Oxford County who are affected by mental health and addiction issues.
The results also signify the members’ solid endorsement of the progress made in changing labour relations within the organization, Forster added.
“I applaud our members for their strong vote of support and the good relations they appear to have with their employer,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.