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OPSEU members at Humber River Regional Hospital receive arbitration award

OPSEU workers at Humber River Regional Hospital reach arbitrated award

Toronto (5 Jan. 2012) - Hospital professionals with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) employed by Humber River Regional Hospital received an arbitration award providing them with a new collective agreement at the end of December.

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 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 represents 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 at the hospital.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 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