Staff at Canadian Blood Services are feeling like they’re delivering a product to consumers, rather than delivering a service to the public. Reprentatives of CUPE and the National Union of Public and General Employees carried that message to the board of Canadian Blood Services at its October 25th meeting.
“Under this corporate model, our members tell us that they sense that cost savings often takes priority over providing the best quality and safest product,” union reps told the board in a written presentation.
The union reps also urged the CBS Board to rethink its apparent strategy of increasing the use of part time workers.
Activists from the four unions that represent workers at CBS (CUPE, NUPGE, SEIU and NSUPE) met last spring to develop strategies to deal with their employer. Since then, the network has strengthed as locals share information on bargaining and employer practices.
Susan Ruffo, Executive Assistant to National President attended for CUPE while NUPGE sent its Director of Policy Development, Derek Fudge.
Both unions and the CBS Board welcomed the opportunity for further dialogue.
