FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2005
July 25 strike deadline set for Canadian Blood Services workers in Ontario
More than 800 Ontario Canadian Blood Services support staff are set to walk off the job at 12:01 am on July 25th if an impasse over wages cannot be resolved.
Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) are poised to conduct the first ever strike of the blood agency in Ontario.
“CBS should not underestimate the resolve of our members to get a fair deal,” says OPSEU President Leah Casselman. “With a 95 per cent strike vote, the message to the employer should already be clear.”
A strike in Ontario could have an impact across the country – the province accounts for 47 per cent of the blood collected by CBS in Canada. The agency has requested that hospitals begin to curb their blood usage in anticipation of a work stoppage at a period of peak demand.
Despite the strike deadline, bargaining continues with the assistance of a government-appointed conciliator.
OPSEU is committed to stay at the bargaining table for as long as it takes to get a deal.
“You cannot maintain a safe and reliable blood supply without quality staff on the front line. CBS needs to recognize the importance of paying the kind of wages that will maintain a professional and experienced workforce at the agency,” says Casselman.
The final countdown began towards the strike date after a “No Board” was issued July 8.
The Support Unit includes phlebotomists, clinic assistants, drivers, lab assistants and office staff. Their contract expired March 31, 2005.
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For more information, contact Ruth Hamilton at 416-443-8888 ext 8311 or Rick Janson at ext 8207.
