|
BARGAINING UPDATE
Sue McCulloch, OPSEU Staff Representative
We chose "leave it" when the Hospital presented it's ultimatum
on March 1. Since then you demonstrated your wrath to the Board,
the Hospital agreed to implement interim wage standardization (more
to follow), the Parties met on April 20 and 24th for bargaining
and Mediation is scheduled for August 22. Slowly we are making progress,
but there are many items still outstanding, which will go to arbitration
on August 24, November 5 and 6.
When Parties apply for arbitration, the Hospital and the Union
each choose a "nominee" who acts as an advocate for their side.
The two nominees then agree on a neutral arbitrator and the 3 make
up the Arbitration "Board". Russell Goodfellow is the arbitrator/chairman
and OPSEU's nominee is Joe Herbert. Joe is a union side professional
consultant and has worked extensively in arbitrations not only for
OPSEU but also for the former CUPE 1580, CUPE Central and former
AAHPO.
The Hospital and OPSEU each write a brief to support their position
on each item in dispute and presents this brief at the hearing.
Michelle Dawson Haber, a researcher from OPSEU Head Office assigned
to Health Care who is extensively involved with OPSEU Central Hospital
bargaining, will be writing and presenting our brief. After the
final day of hearings the "Board" meets in executive sessions to
consider the presentations and negotiate the award. If there is
no agreement, the arbitrator awards as he sees fit. Any items previously
agreed by the Hospital and OPSEU are incorporated into the award
and the award becomes the first collective agreement. Once the award
is released it is final and is not subject to ratification.
The big items going to arbitration are wages and the classification
system, retroactivity, benefits for part-time employees, sick leave
plan, overtime payment and layoff.
Once we go to arbitration, your Negotiating Committee's work is
essentially done. So here's to the committee... which has demonstrated
the tenacity to fight for those things which should be fought for,
the flexibility to let go of the minor issues and the wisdom to
know the difference.
|
