MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The union representing about 800 workers in Region of Peel long-term care centres says it is looking for respectful treatment from the employer when negotiations resume tomorrow with the help of a provincially-appointed conciliator.
“This employer continues to show a lack of respect for the mostly women workers who have the greatest care of our region’s seniors,” said Mary Jo Falle, president of CUPE 966. “We have been fighting to get pay equity owed to our members and now we have to fight off concessions at the bargaining table.”
The parties met four times before the union requested a conciliator appointed by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Falle said. The major issues are benefit concessions that the employer is demanding from workers at Peel Manor, Sheridan Villa, Malton Village and Tall Pines. For its part, the union is seeking additional staffing.
“This employer continues to ‘gap’ shifts,” said Falle. “That means they don’t replace people who call in sick or are away for other reasons. So, when they say that residents are receiving more than 2.75 hours of care every day, it’s not all nursing care. They’re counting paperwork and other jobs.”
In addition, she said, the region has already contracted out security and a gardener at Tall Pines and Malton Village, raising issues of accountability.
“We want a negotiated collective agreement, but we need to see a more respectful attitude from this employer in order to achieve a settlement with the conciliator’s help,” Falle said.
CUPE 966 units representing Public Works, Public Health, Ontario Works and TransHelp are also in negotiations with Region of Peel for new collective agreements.
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For more information, contact:
Mary Jo Falle, President, CUPE 966, 905-502-6599
Helen Gibb-Gavel, CUPE National Representative, 905-568-4664
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, 416-616-6142