The Bargaining Team for OPSEU Locals 221, 317, and 704 representing highway maintenance workers has reached a tentative agreement with their employer Carillion Canada Inc. which, pending ratification, will avoid strike action. The Bargaining Team recommends ratification.
The four-year deal, retroactive to 2014, will see wages increase by 7.5 per cent. Members had rejected a previous offer of three per cent over the same period. They objected to a pay-in-lieu per cent provision tabled by the employer. Carillion did not move off this position, but in exchange the Bargaining Team negotiated a minimum guarantee of hours for all seasonal/part-time employees, who represent a majority of members in Locals 317 and 704.
Employees will now receive a minimum guarantee of 25 hours per week. This is a significant gain. Previously if members were not called out to work they received nothing or only $1.40 an hour "on call pay". They will now receive the 25 hour guarantee whether there is work or not. This far surpasses the loss of the "in lieu" payment and increases further when combined with the additional wage percentages.
Dates and locations for voting:
July 22 – Local 221 – Port Dover Bridge (Parking Lot) 12:00 pm
July 22 – Local 704 – Legion branch 133 at 522 Main St, Geraldton. 4:00 – 6:00 pm
July 27 – Local 317 – Microtel – Parry Sound – 1:00 – 6:00 pm
July 28 – Local 317 – Huntsville Membership Centre and Orillia Regional Office – 1:00 – 4:30 pm