More than 300 Community Living workers in Thunder Bay, represented by OPSEU Local 740, are poised to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. May 21 unless they can reach a contract agreement.
“It seems apparent that talks will go down to the wire,” said Erin Rice, president of Local 740. “There is only one outstanding item left to resolve, but regrettably management seems to be digging in its heels.”
At issue is seniority-based promotional hiring. Under the current collective agreement, full-time openings must be offered to the most senior permanent part-time staff. Management wants to scrap that arrangement.
“Our members are incredibly united on this issue,” said Rice. “We want to keep the status quo and management wants no part of it. This is the make or break issue for us.”
Many community living operations in the province have eliminated seniority-based promotions and it is suspected that is why Community Living Thunder Bay has adopted its hard-line approach to the issue.
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said Local 740 enjoys the fulsome support of the union in its negotiations.
“That management wants to eliminate seniority-based promotional hiring is a non-starter for our members,” said Thomas. “Whether they reach a tentative deal before the strike deadline or whether they opt to take strike action, both sides should understand our members at Local 740 enjoy the unreserved support of OPSEU.”
More information:
Erin Rice
President, OPSEU Local 740
Tel: 807-627-8709