The following bargaining update was emailed to all OPSEU/SEFPO members working at Canadian Blood Services.
Dear OPSEU/SEFPO members working at Canadian Blood Services,
After 11 hard days of bargaining with the employer, your bargaining team sought assistance from the Ministry of Labour and a Conciliation Officer to join our meetings in order for to help the parties reach a settlement. Conciliation took place on November 15th and 23rd. In total, the parties met for 13 days where your Union team continued to push the employer with the mandate they were provided.
Unfortunately, our employer failed to address many of our key concerns, including wages, a commitment to full-time positions, Sunday double time for all members, shift premiums, vacation improvements and sick time. Your bargaining team fought hard for these improvements, along with many others, and the employer refused to address the concerns raised.
Next Steps: Interest Arbitration
Your bargaining team had a tough decision to make on next steps. As you know, this is our first round of bargaining where we are bound by the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA), which means that any remaining items in dispute would go before an arbitrator to rule on, should an agreement not be reached. Since the deal being offered by the employer was not acceptable, the bargaining team has decided to proceed to Interest Arbitration. We are confident that we can achieve more through arbitration.
We have now asked the Conciliator to issue a “No Board Report” which will move the process to Interest Arbitration, where an Arbitrator will release a final and binding decision on the items in dispute.
Once the No Board Report is received, the parties will work to agree upon an Arbitrator. A date will then be confirmed for a hearing.
Although it will likely take some time before a hearing date is set, your bargaining team will continue to keep you up-to-date with the latest developments.
We would like to thank all members for the support you have offered us throughout the process by wearing your solidarity lanyards, and for your messages of encouragement.
We look forward to our hearing date and presenting our case to the Arbitrator.
Stay tuned and stay connected
As always, we can’t thank you enough for keeping Ontario’s blood supply safe, and for providing such excellent care to the public, all while dealing with the many struggles brought on by this pandemic.
Please contact any one of us on the team if you have questions or concerns, and be sure to visit our sector’s Facebook page.
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Team:
Geoff Cain (Local 160): Bargaining Team Chair
Jennifer Johnson (Local 5103): Bargaining Team Vice-Chair
Alberto Alvaro (Local 200)
Gloria Blanchard (Local 210)
Brent MacPherson (Local 477)