Canadian Labour Reporter

2 Canadian HR Reporter, a HAB Press business 2020 Contract talks break off for Ontario nurses TORONTO — Contract talks between Ontario Nurses' Associ- ation (ONA) hospital registered nurses and the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) broke down on March 4, says the union. "While ONA always prefers to negotiate a new contract for our dedicated and highly edu- cated members, the unfortu- nate reality is that the provincial government's passage of Bill 124 interferes with free collective bargaining," says Vicki McKen- na, ONA president. "Bill 124 is the statute that the Ontario gov- ernment passed that caps com- pensation increases below the cost of living to a maximum of one per cent annually for some — but not all — Ontario public- sector workers." The sides held two weeks of talks for about 60,000 RNs and health-care professionals, but they ended with a number of significant outstanding issues remaining unsettled because of the restraints in bargaining man- dated by Bill 124, says ONA. ONA is one of several unions that have launched a Charter challenge of Bill 124 but the only one to raise the gender discrimi- nation caused by the bill. "It is very clear that this gov- ernment has no problem with at- tempting to suppress the wages of female professionals in On- tario," says McKenna. "This is 2020 and our constitution and pay equity laws require fair and just compensation for women; it is time this government recog- nized that." ONA and the OHA will proceed to arbitration on March 25 and 26 to achieve a collective agreement, says the union. Tentative deal for Empress hotel workers VICTORIA — The bargaining committee for Fairmont Em- press hotel workers in Victoria reached a tentative agreement with the employer on March 6. Unifor, Local 4267 served strike notice earlier in the week after a lack of progress at the bar- gaining table, says the union. "The bargaining committee successfully fought back conces- sions and achieved many of our goals for a new contract," says James Griffin, Unifor, Local 4276 president. Carleton instructors vote to strike OTTAWA — Contract instruc- tors (CIs) at Carleton University in Ottawa, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Em- ployees (CUPE), 4600-2, voted overwhelmingly on March 9 to authorize job action if necessary. The union had been negotiat- ing with Carleton since last sum- mer, but several major issues re- main unresolved. The union has also requested the assistance of a Ministry of Labour conciliation officer to help move discussions forward, says CUPE. CIs at Carleton struggle with limited job security, few ben- efits, an outdated and unscien- tific performance evaluation system that exposes workers to harassment and discrimination, no pension or retirement plan and wages significantly lower than people performing exactly the same work just down the street at the University of Ot- tawa, says the union. "We teach about 35 per cent of courses at Carleton. This uni- versity couldn't function without us," says Meg Lonergan, CUPE 4600 president. "But our mem- bers can't deliver the quality edu- cation students deserve without fair working conditions." New contract at C.E.C. Mechanical VAUGHAN, Ont. — Employ- ees of C.E.C. Mechanical rati- fied a new three-year collective agreement on Feb. 28. The contract provides em- ployees with a 6.5 per cent wage increase, reimbursement for parking fees, a $50 increase to the vision care plan and a $100 increase in paramedical expense coverage, says the Construction Workers Union, CLAC Local 52. C.E.C Mechanical employs 30 employees who perform me- chanical work in the Greater To- ronto Area. The union has repre- sented the employees since 2003. LABOUR BRIEFS GET LISTED IN THE HR VENDORS GUIDE Visit hrreporter.com/hr-vendors-guide HR Professional Development Description: Faccaerio. Name volore pre et atur. Cerumqui consedi seraectis eos magnisi nvenihi lliquist qui accum de pres experis testior eperest que ventust qui re volorum quatat. Ed et aut aut harunt aut fugitata iur. Cerumqui consedi seraectis eos magnisi nvenihi lliquist qui accum de pres experis testior eperest volorum quatat. Training and Development Description: Faccaerio. Name volore pre et atur. Cerumqui consedi seraectis eos magnisi nvenihi lliquist qui accum de pres experis testior eperest que ventust qui re volorum quatat. Ed et aut aut harunt aut fugitata iur. 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