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HomeNewsNorth Bay hospital workers rally for fair contract

North Bay hospital workers rally for fair contract

Workers with the North Bay Regional Health Centre rallied during the Wednesday noon hour to protest the slow contract talks they’re being put through by the Ontario Hospital Association.

Although both sides are resuming talks this weekend, it’s the first time they’re negotiating again after talks broke off last September.

Nancy Barnett, CUPE’s National Representative in North Bay said the OHA is demanding significant concessions, something the workers will not agree to.

Barnett says one of the major issues is how seniority plays out in a layoff situation.

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“Right now we can bump a junior person and it doesn’t have to be the most junior (employee),” Barnett said.

But Barnett said the OHA wants the affected person to be the most junior.

Barnett said wages are also part of this round of talks.

She says the workers simply want a modest increase similar to what the hospitals gave lab workers across the province.

Barnett says normally outstanding matters like wages and even seniority would constitute strike mandates, but hospital employees are prohibited from striking.

She says the alternative is interest arbitration, a device CUPE would have to consider if the weekend talks fail.

Barnett said if there is no tentative deal after this weekend, CUPE and other unions have a vote set for May 2nd province-wide where the employees will direct the bargaining team on the next course of action.

 

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