Hospital professionals with OPSEU Local 590 at Humber River Regional Hospital have received an arbitration award providing them with a new collective agreement.
This arbitrated award follows on the heels of the Central Hospital arbitration award in 2011. “We expected that arbitration would be required to reach a fair settlement for our members at Humber River Regional Hospital,” said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “We appreciate the timeliness with which Arbitrator Gerry Lee handled this process.”
“The improved language in this contract will offer our members additional job security,” said OPSEU Local 590 Bargaining Team Chair and Local President Vicki Goldson. “This renewed commitment to service delivery will be important to the community we serve as well as the workers, given the current economic climate.”
The three-year agreement is in effect from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014. Key gains include lump sum payments for the first two years and an across-the-board wage increase of 2.75 per cent in the third year of the contract. The new contract also provides for early retirement benefits for employees aged 57-65, increases to shift premiums and a minor improvement to the vision care benefit.
The award, however, also imposes some reductions in benefits such as caps on dispensing fees and increased annual deductibles.
OPSEU Local 590 has approximately 246 members in a variety of classifications such as Social Workers, Speech Language Pathologists, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Assistants, Child and Youth Workers, Speech Language Pathologists and Rehab Assistants.
More information:
Vicki Goldson, OPSEU Local 590 Bargaining Team Chair and Local President: 416-716-3577 (cell)