October 2002

Why aren’t we bargaining? Ask the employer!

Members have many questions about why we are not bargaining now and why it is taking so long to get a contract. To begin with there are two separate bargaining teams, one for the Paramedical staff and one for the Office, Service and Clerical staff. Henry Brugma, on behalf of the Local, gave notice to bargain in Feb. 2001 and our first meeting was held in May 2001. Up until May 12, 2002 both teams were meeting with the employer and a conciliator in an attempt to pick up the pace and get a deal done.

On May 12, 2002, at the conclusion of bargaining, our negotiator, Walter Belyea, requested a ‘no board report’ from the conciliator. This enables us to set an arbitration date and an artificial deadline to work towards. Frequently, the parties meet before the deadline and settle the contract. Requesting a ‘no board’ to set an arbitration date is a common practice and this employer knows this. Unfortunately, the employer is still stalling and will not meet with your bargaining teams until the arbitration hearings.

The arbitration hearings are tentatively scheduled for Apr.15, 2003 and June 3, 2003. The Local President has talked with the employer on more than one occasion to convince them to get back to the bargaining table. Each time he was told it was under consideration. There has been no response yet and we do not expect one.

The members have asked what they can do to help get our first contract. As members we must put the heat on the employer. Your teams are waiting for the employer’s call. Without your active support, we will not have a contract in place until late 2003 or early 2004.

This is unacceptable. We are ready, willing and able to meet and get the deal done. All we need is the employer to agree.

Labour Board Complaint

The union filed a Labour Board complaint on Sept. 5, 2002 on the attempts of the hospital to send Brockville staff to Ottawa as part of their duties, and the employer’s refusal to provide information to the bargaining teams for bargaining. The employer is required by law to provide sufficient information on benefits, seniority, grid placement and plans that might produce layoffs in the bargaining unit when the parties are bargaining.

The complaint also affects the OPSEU unit in the Royal Ottawa and the CUPE unit. The actions of the employer show a complete lack of respect for our members and the locals that represent them. A Labour Board officer, Janet Ruzyceki, has been appointed to meet with the parties but no date has yet been set. The resolution of this complaint will help the bargaining teams prepare for the arbitration in the spring.

What members can do

The bargaining teams need you to contact Ingo Ritums and Catherine Thomas at the ROHCG and request that they get back to the bargaining table with your Union. This can be done by fax or email (iritums@rohcg.on.ca and cthomas@rohcg.on.ca) with copies to the Local. We need to narrow the issues and leave only the important disputes for arbitration.

Authorized by your OPSEU Local 439 bargaining team:

Walter Belyea, Negotiator, David McDougall, President Local 439, Rose Philips VP and Bargaining Chair Office Service and Clerical, and Byron Boone, Unit Steward and Chair, Paramedical. Contact us at: rphillip@rohcg.on.ca;  bboone@rohcg.on.ca ; or dmcdouga@rohcg.on.ca  

This bulletin is being sent to keep you informed about collective bargaining. For more information, contact your steward or a team member, or visit OPSEU’s web site at http://www.opseu.org.  

Authorized for Distribution: Leah Casselman, President