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“Thanks to the dedication of our bargaining team, we now have a solid first collective agreement that will carry us through into 2017." — Wanda Nancekivell, OPSEU Unit Steward Local 159
St. Thomas (09 May 2016) — More than 115 office and clerical employees at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) are now represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
Award provides job security protection, a progressive wage grid and wage increases over 3 years
The administrative workers at the hospital chose OPSEU/NUPGE in a vote under the Public Service Labour Relations Transition Act. But, in order to reach a first collective agreement, the union needed to go to interest arbitration to resolve issues.
The most important improvements achieved by the members in the arbitration award were gaining job security protection, a standardized wage grid with regular service progression, and wage increases of 1.4 per cent, 0.7 per cent and 0.7 per cent over the 3-year term.
Reaching first collective agreements takes time and dedication
Wanda Nancekivell, OPSEU Unit Steward Local 159, was pleased with the results of the award. “Thanks to the dedication of our bargaining team, we now have a solid first collective agreement that will carry us through into 2017,” she said.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU, welcomed the new members on behalf of the executive board. “It’s never easy for workers to seek out representation by a union,” he said. “It’s always encouraging when newly organized workers arrive at a first collective agreement that meets their needs and expectations.”
OPSEU/NUPGE represents more than 500 workers at STEGH.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE