SUDBURY – Two consecutive days of mediation will resume Sept. 1 between striking members of OPSEU Local 677 and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
“We’re pleased to be heading back to the table but the effort will be worthless unless we see real progress on the 19 outstanding issues that the employer seems very reluctant to negotiate,” said Tyler England, chair of the bargaining team for Local 677 representing more than 150 administrative, clerical and technical staff at Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. NOSM also operates satellite campuses in Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins.
Members of Local 677 walked off the job Aug. 16 after negotiations, which started in Sept. 2009, broke down. Outstanding issues include hours of work, sick leave, contracting out, family leaves and wages.