FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 15, 2001

Members reject tentative agreement with Canadian Blood Services

HAMILTON - The members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 210 in Hamilton have voted to reject a tentative agreement with Canadian Blood Services. The 41 Medical Laboratory Technologists will withdraw their services effective 11 p.m. on August 15.

Gary Adams, union negotiator, says that the members did not want to strike, but could not accept certain aspects of the agreement.

"We brought the deal to the members and they have said they cannot live with some of the employer's proposals," Adams said. "Our members wanted to stay on the job and continue providing quality service to people in need of blood and blood products in Hamilton and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, items in the tentative agreement would have hampered the continuation of that high level of service."

Issues in contention include benefits, severance pay and quality service issues. Members want to keep the benefits and severance pay they already have, and want an effective process to deal with quality issues as they arise.

Adams said that he hopes that there is a swift resolution to the dispute. "We hope that the employer will come back in a timely manner and take a fresh look at the issues in contention," Adams said. "It's unfortunate that the employer had to take this stand."

OPSEU has represented the 41 members at Canadian Blood Services since December 2000.

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For more information, please contact:

                  Gary Adams (519) 820-3818
                  Don Ford, OPSEU Communications (416) 788-9104