Toronto – OPSEU members with Local 575 at the Scarborough Health Network have a new collective agreement. It’s a first agreement since the bargaining unit was certified May 8, 2018.
“It’s been a long struggle,” says Local President, Kingsley Kwok. “The award, while not containing everything that we asked for, is generally accepted by the nearly 900 members who are ready to move forward. We can now focus our energies on building our strength and solidarity as a single bargaining unit.”
Members of Local 575 work as laboratory technologists and technicians, and as health sciences professionals such as social workers, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and pharmacists.
Negotiations earlier this month did result in agreements on the vast majority of issues. However, no settlement could be reached on wages, benefits, mobility of employees between sites, hours of work and scheduling. An arbitration award issued by Arbitrator Chris Albertyn settled the outstanding issues on October 23.
“I would like to congratulate our members for their patience and determination,” said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “Mr. Albertyn’s award brings closure to this first difficult phase in the new bargaining unit’s history. OPSEU will continue work hard for our members and do what’s best for them and patients who need focused and committed health care professionals.”
The Scarborough Health Network consists of three hospitals and eight satellite sites.