Wallaceburg ambulance workers ratify deal with Sunnybrook

WALLACEBURG, ON, Nov. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - On November 19, workers at the Wallaceburg Central Ambulance Communication Centre, who form part of Local 147, ratified their first collective agreement with Sunnybrook Hospital. The vote was 94 per cent in favour.

The workers had been members of OPSEU for many years as employees of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. About 18 months ago, Sunnybrook Hospital took them over. The workers had been awaiting a contract with the new employer for almost a year.

The wage settlement mirrors that which OPSEU recently negotiated for the Ontario Public Service (OPS). The new collective agreement includes a 1.4 per cent lump sum in 2016 and a 1.4 per cent general wage increase in 2017. Progression through the salary grid is frozen for 2016 and 2017. Severance pay concessions identical to those in the OPS were also agreed to.

Improvements include personal and compassionate leave, responsibility pay, and signing bonuses of $1,000 and $500 for full-time and part-time employees, respectively.

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas expressed satisfaction with the ambulance workers' first collective agreement with Sunnybrook Hospital. "Notwithstanding the extended delay, I'm pleased that the parties were able to come to an agreement that our members could overwhelmingly support. This speaks to the ability of the OPSEU bargaining team to negotiate the best possible deal for our members."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Florry Foster, Staff Representative, OPSEU, 416-443-8888, ext. 5124