Revised edition: Vote location for Thunder Bay has been changed.
As you know, your OPSEU bargaining team has reached a tentative four-year agreement with Public Health Ontario that not only provides wage improvements for everyone but also contains no concessions. The highlights of the tentative agreement – which still needs to be voted on by OPSEU members – are as follows:
- A four-year term from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2018 which will provide stability so the union can start to deal with some labour relations issues (such as pay equity) rather than going right back into bargaining as we have in the past.
- A 1.4 per cent wage increase on April 1 of each year of the collective agreement. In addition, members maintain their right to annual movement on the grid.
- Retroactive pay for all hours worked since April 1, 2014.
- Improvements to the grievance procedure that will help to provide for a more efficient grievance process.
- Employees with temporary positions will be entitled to receive all salary adjustments that they would have normally received in their regular position.
- New employees will no longer have to wait six months before being eligible to take vacation.
- Further clarifications of vacation pay “in lieu” entitlements for part time employees.
- Improved bereavement-leave provisions to entitle employees with four days leave in the event of the death of a parent, spouse, child or spouse’s child.
- Removal of any discipline record on an employee’s file after 24 months (previously 36 months).
- No concessions!
Come on out and vote April 11-12
Please check the schedule below for the date, time and location for the ratification vote for your work location.
April 11, 2016
Toronto: 480 University Ave., Toronto: 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
Ottawa: 2380 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cambridge: 350 Conestoga Blvd., Cambridge: 9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.
Kingston: 181 Barrie St., Kingston: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hamilton: 250 Fennel Ave. West, Hamilton: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
London: 850 Highbury Ave., London: 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Oshawa: 419 King St. West, Oshawa: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
April 12, 2016
Orillia: 750 Memorial Ave., Orillia: 9:30a.m. -11:30a.m.
St. Mary’s: 268 Maiden Lane, St. Mary’s: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Brampton: 2 County Court Blvd. Suite 200, Brampton: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Toronto: 661 University Ave., Toronto: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Warehouse: 81 Resources Rd., Toronto: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Downsview: 145 Sir William Hearst Ave., Suite 320, North York: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Peterborough: 99 Hospital Drive., Peterborough: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Thunder Bay: 336 S Syndicate Ave, Thunder Bay: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Revised)
Sudbury: OPSEU Regional Office: 866 Newgate Ave., Sudbury: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sault Ste. Marie: OPSEU Regional Office: 154 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Timmins: OPSEU Regional Office: 414 Algonquin Blvd. East, Timmins: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
A message from your team: thank you!
After more than two years without a collective agreement, your OPSEU bargaining team is very pleased to have reached a new tentative agreement with Public Health Ontario. This is an historic agreement: it is the first time the parties have been able to reach an agreement in bargaining without having an arbitrator determine the conditions of settlement.
This round of bargaining has been long and extremely frustrating for all of us. We began this process back in July of 2014. Over that period, we faced little to no movement at the table from the employer. Throughout bargaining, the employer maintained a position that any contract settlement had to meet the government’s mandate of “net zero” increases. In short, the employer wanted you to pay for any improvements to your wages, benefits and other working conditions.
We were firm from the beginning that this was not going to be the case; after minimal improvements since 2012, we were not going to pay for our own gains in this round.
The lack of movement from the employer was extremely difficult for all of us. It was your support and enthusiasm for the t-shirt campaign and the BBQs that help build solidarity throughout our workplaces. It showed the employer that that you stood strong behind your bargaining team.
Your support over this period also helped solidify our position at the bargaining table. You told our employer that our collective agreement was not for sale, and that the issues that had led to the impasse needed to disappear from the employer’s demands.
Thank you for your support throughout this process. We could not have reached this tentative agreement without you. We are recommending that the members accept this offer and vote yes to this contract.
In Solidarity,
Ellen Goslin, Local 308, Team Chair
Robert Thomas, Local 113
Shah Nawaz, Local 545, Vice Chair
Clayton McKibbon, Local 716
Brenda Boyle, Local 522