ISSUE 3 , Jan 2009  Special Edition

OUT OF THE DARK!

NUPGE and OPSEU Host National meeting of CBS Unions

The second meeting of unions representing CBS employees across Canada met in Ottawa at the end of October. The first in Calgary three years ago was a great start and the 35 members in attendance in Ottawa agreed to meet more frequently.

Sean Allen, president of Ottawa OPSEU Local 477 and chair of OPSEU Sector 19 CBS and Diagnostics Division, stressed the importance of regular annual meetings on a national basis in order to tackle common problems members face coast-to-coast.

Canadian Blood Services is always in a state of change which often amounts to more standardization and cross-training. It was apparent from discussion at the Ottawa meeting that the organization is very fragmented. CBS divisions and regions are very competitive which makes our members uncertain about their futures.

Many topics came under discussion at the Ottawa
meeting, including:

•           staff shortages, work loads, hours of work,
contracting out;

•           wages, benefits, pensions;

•           attendance management programs, health and safety, injured worker accommodation

•           phlebotomy training program, optimization project,
pandemic plan

•           blood services Super Centre

Union reps also discussed the bargaining climate in different jurisdictions and found that lengthy delays and concession demands by the employer were common everywhere; this presents very significant challenges to our bargaining teams.

Activists left informed and looking forward to the next meeting to be held in the Maritimes in 2010

Blood shortages: more demand or bumbling changes?

Following the Ottawa meeting of CBS unions the employer sent out a cross-Canada appeal for blood donors to keep their appointments. CBS said that hospital demand was outstripping supply inventories.

Unions across the country released a media response to the “crisis” which pointed out that the employer’s operational structure and program implementations were contributing
to the national shortage. The employer was not amused by our response.

Here are the reasons why Canada faces a national shortage in blood supply:

To read our news release please visit:

www.opseu.org/news/press2008/nov42008.htm .

HEALTH AND SAFETY –
Workplace Violence workshops

The Health Care Divisional Council has launched a campaign dealing with work place violence, starting with work shops for our members.  The workshops will be followed by a spring 2009 rally at Queens Park. Stay posted for more details.

Several workshops have already taken place around Ontario. The turnout and enthusiasm has been excellent

Region 1    January 8, 2009 – London

Region 2    November 25, 2008 – Hamilton

Region 3    November 20, 2008 – Oshawa

Region 4    January 15, 2009 – Ottawa

Region 5    November 12, 2008 – Toronto

Region 6    December 4, 2008 – Sudbury

Region 7    November 7, 2008 – Thunder Bay

Locals will be able to send the highest ranking officers to this event. Details will be sent out by the Health care Divisional Council.

Labour Management Meetings

Beverly Ross, executive member for Labour-Management, reports that meetings are being held as per the provisions of the Collective Agreement, but that there no evidence the employer is willing to make any meaningful contributions at those meetings.

We will continue to have discussions on strategies to better improve the effectiveness of these meetings to improve
labour relations. We will communicate any progress – or
lack thereof – in future issues of To The Point and in our posted minutes.

PAY EQUITY

The committee will meet again Jan. 5-9, 2009

Watch for a joint communication that will update the pay equity process.

Bargaining Updates

Congratulations to the Tech Units Local 5101 Toronto and Local 210 Hamilton 210. They ratified their new Collective Agreement on Nov. 7 2008. It featured a three-year contract with very little concessions and great gains and awesome language.

A big round of applause to our bargaining team!!

Brother Bernard King OPSEU Negotiator

Brother Steve O’Marra           Chair Local 5101

Sister Angel Thompson           Secretary 5101

Sister Shirley Johnny  Local 210

The Provincial Support Unit (Locals 160, 210, 477and 5103) met on November 25th in Toronto for team training and a review of membership demands. Keep an eye open for more information in Bloodletters as your source for bargaining this round.

Local 716 – the bargaining team exchanged proposals and had  2 days of bargaining Dec. 18th and 19th. Solidarity to our sisters and brothers in the North!

The Sector

CBS AND DIAGNOSTICS are scheduled to meet on Mar. 3rd and 4th, 2009, in Toronto. Full details to follow in our next issue.

Sector 19 Sector Executive Report

This past term your executive has conducted business without a full complement of members. We have a vacancy on the executive and under our bylaws the empty seat will not be filled until November 2009 at the next BPS conference in Toronto.

I’m looking forward to a hike in interest from the membership. The strength and effectiveness of our sector depends on the commitment and support of all members. It is my hope that we can gain representation on the executive from all our divisions. The result will be a stronger sector that can take on issues that are common across the sector memberships in a strong and meaningful way.

- Sean Allen, President OPSEU Local 477 & Chair of OPSEU Sector 19 CBS and Diagnostic Divison

TO THE POINT was written by:

Brenda Thompson, President Local 210, Vice Chair Sector 19

AUTHORIZED BY WARREN (SMOKEY) THOMAS, OPSEU PRESIDENT