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Toronto Workers at Second Base Youth Shelter have filed for conciliation in an effort to reach a second collective agreement. Second Base is the only youth shelter in Scarborough.

“The employer has simply said no to all proposals we put on the table,” said Peter Baran, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4358, which represents the 33 workers. “At the same time, they are demanding concessions that we cannot accept.”

The union has agreed to a number of the employer’s proposals, but remains concerned about the employer’s accountability to the Second Base board of directors for labour relations and the work environment, said CUPE National Representative Lorne Trevors.

“The employer wants to remove a step in the grievance process that allows issues to go to the board’s personnel committee,” he said. “Removing that step would worsen what employees already feel is a poisonous work environment. The board of directors has to be involved.”

Other employer demands would take away rights related to layoff, recall, severance and overtime as well as contracting out language. Management also wants to change staff schedules and hours of work, Trevors said.

“We went to the table to bargain in good faith,” said Baran. “Now, we hope a conciliator will be able to help us reach an agreement without affecting services to youth in need in Scarborough.” The shelter, which has 56 beds, usually operates at close to full occupancy, he said.

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For more information, contact:

Peter Baran, President, CUPE Local 4358, 416-261-2733 ext 2017
Lorne Trevors, CUPE National Rep, 905-837-2713 (cell)
Pat Daley,Communications Rep, 416-616-6142 (cell)