Negotiating Updates
Many of you may already know the outcome of our strike mandate vote, for those who have not heard yet your bargaining team is pleased to announce the official results. On Monday March 25th, the union hosted two sessions for the strike mandate vote at the Royal Canadian Legion on Spring Street in Niagara Falls. We thank everyone for the overwhelming turnout. We thank you for the support and thank you for listening to us. There were 335 ballots cast, which is an unbelievable turnout, great work everyone. Of the 335 ballots cast, 326 were for a YES vote and 9 were for a NO vote, making it a 97% in favour of a strike mandate!!!
With this strong mandate the bargaining team was able to bring it to the fourth day of negotiating on Thursday March 28th, showing that this local is serious and will not accept a poor contract. In attendance at this meeting was the assigned conciliator from the Ministry of Labour to oversee the negotiating process. This person is not there to get a good deal, fair deal or a poor deal; he is only there to just get a deal done. The assigned conciliator will also remain in attendance until we can agree on the proposed demands. Please have confidence in your bargaining team that we will not allow for a poor deal to be presented to the membership.
Now that the 28th now behind us, the bargaining team regrets to inform the membership we are still without an agreed contract to bring back to you the member. The next planned negotiating day is scheduled for April 29th and this is only if the employer has heard back from the treasury board in a positive manner.
Please continue to be patient with the process. We will be providing regular updates as they happen. Your bargaining team, local executive committee and stewards are in the planning stages of our next move. We will be asking for your full support and encourage your participation. Details to come...
Thank you again for sticking together and staying strong. Please continue to look for updates and next steps.
Tom Churney
President
OPSEU/SEFPO Local 217
E: thomasmchurney@hotmail.com
C: (905) 321-5677