(GUELPH ) – After more than a year of on-again,
off-again bargaining, members of OPSEU Local 203 have ratified
their first contract with Guelph Independent Living.
The settlement includes a one per cent wage
increase.
"It is our first contract and it was a very
tough fight to get it," said Laura Webster, president of Local
203, representing about 75 workers at the agency. "I am very
proud of the stand our members took in the face of an employer
who gave little impression all along that it was interested in
serious bargaining.
"But this process has brought us together as a
bargaining unit and we are tremendously gratified by the support
we received from the community and our clients. This is a
contract that we will build upon in future rounds of
bargaining."
Members of Local 203 had originally set a Nov.
13, 2010 strike deadline but later extended that to Jan. 13, and
then, Feb. 26.
GIL staff work with people with physical
disabilities and the elderly. Going into contract negotiations
they were among the most underpaid doing similar work in the
region. They voted to join OPSEU in Oct. 2009 and were in
negotiations with management since Jan. 2010.
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