OPSEU LOCAL 276
MEDIA RELEASE

April 4, 2008

Talks back on for Grey-Bruce Health Unit office and clerical staff
 

OWEN SOUND -The negotiating team for OPSEU Local 276, representing the office and clerical employees at Grey Bruce Health Unit, will be back at the bargaining table April 9.

The union held a strike vote Feb. 21 attended by over 90 per cent of the membership. The members overwhelmingly voted to give the bargaining team the mandate to call a strike, if necessary, to get a better contract. Talks will continue with the assistance of a conciliation officer from the Ministry of Labour.

Linda Owens, a program assistant at the Health Unit, and a member of the bargaining team, said GBHU office staff are about 15 per cent behind most other health units around the province. “Grey-Bruce is touted as a leader in program development and delivery in Ontario, but this is not reflected in our wages and benefits.”

“We hope to reach an agreement and avoid a strike,” Owens said. “We only want what is fair for our members, in comparison with others doing similar work at other health units in this province.”

The office and clerical workers at GBHU support programs the Health Unit delivers including vaccine, rabies, safe water, environment, food safety, healthy babies, sexual health, and dental.

“We play a key role on the front line and in the development and delivery of every health promotion and disease program the Health Unit delivers,” she said. We take this very seriously and this is demonstrated in the great quality of services provided to the public in Grey and Bruce Counties.”

For more information: Linda Owens (519) 794-3675