|
Download this Newsletter
September 17, 2009
CHAIR’S
REPORT - Jill McIllwraith
On Friday June
5, representatives from 16 of our 21 bargaining units and their Staff Reps,
gathered at the
Wellesley
office in Toronto for our first Coordinated Bargaining Conference.
They were given
an update from the executive about the investigation for the coordinated
bargaining in Sector 11, as mandated at the previous divisional meeting.
Adrienne Pires,
Research Officer, made a presentation to the members about the history of
bargaining in the Hospital Support Sector. This gave everyone a solid
understanding of how “Industry Standards” were developed over time by a variety
of bargaining tables.
A presentation
from Ruth Hamilton, Negotiator, focused on the two top priorities concerning our
members; Industry Standard language for job security and compensation. By the
end of the afternoon, the membership voted unanimously to pass a motion to move
forward with coordinated bargaining. The nine locals that are heading to the
table this fall with contract expiry dates of September and October 2009, will
be the leading group for the first round.
More
information will be following so watch for updates in the newsletters and on our
webpage.
What is
Coordinated Bargaining?
This is the
alternative preferred when employers will not accept a master agreement (central
bargaining) and locals want to increase their bargaining strength.
There are
various formal and informal structures that can be used to promote and
facilitate the coordination of collective bargaining between locals.
Coordination of
bargaining means sharing of bargaining information among locals. Coordinated
bargaining will allow for strengthening and standardizing the collective
agreements.
Each unit will
elect its own bargaining team, who will negotiate the renewal of their
collective agreement.
Coordinated
bargaining allows us to provide better service to our members by pooling our
resources and can help in ensuring that our contracts meet the current Industry
Standards.
Each year
Sector 11 will have a one day conference to determine the next group of issues
to take to the table.
Plan to attend;
Sector 11 needs your voice in this process. You decide the issues, that we will
all take to the table. It’s time OPSEU has the Industry Standard.
In Solidarity;
Harry Sangha
Download this Newsletter
|
