Nominees For: Spoiled Total:
Chief Steward Structured Cable:
Lloyd Bishop 50 8
Colum P. Lynn 17
In Solidarity,
5/20/2021 -Sisters and Brothers,
Negotiations with the company continued this week via zoom. Despite the challenges related to COVID 19 and the current government restrictions, discussions have advanced and at an adequate pace. We are working hard to reach a negotiated agreement.
We thank you for your patience and support, as we continue to fight for your priorities. We will be sure to keep you informed of future developments.
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee
Many grievors may have received a communication from the employer in reference to the above noted Policy Grievance Award. This grievance and those held in abeyance have been dismissed as per Arbitrator James Hayes
AWARD
Introduction
1. This decision addresses a policy grievance about whether all Regular Full-
Time employees are entitled to have consecutive days of rest (CDORs) regardless of
their schedules within each two-week period of work.
2. At issue is the interpretation of Article 16.02(d) of the Collective Agreement.
This clause was amended in the most recent round of collective bargaining.
3. UNIFOR takes the position that the amendments were made, specifically, to
reverse a 2012 arbitration award (“Herman Award”) that interpreted the then-existing
provision to allow the Company to schedule single days of rest (colloquially
referred to as ‘island days’) without a guarantee of CDORs. Bell Technical Solutions,
2012 CarswellOnt 4012 (Herman).
4. The Union further takes the position that, if it is wrong in its interpretation of
Article 16.02(d), BTS is estopped from relying on the strict language of the provision
based on the bargaining history. UNIFOR submits that, because the Company
remained silent in negotiations on the amendments to Article 16.02(d), the Union can
rely upon that silence as signifying agreement to the Union’s position.
5. BTS responds that a plain reading of the Collective Agreement and its context
in the Collective Agreement indicates that CDORs are only guaranteed in the limited
circumstances where a Full-Time employee’s hours have been averaged over a two-week
period. The Company says that its interpretation is reinforced when compared
to the clarity of language used in granting Part-Time employees CDORs in Article
16.04(k). It further maintains that the Union has not made out the essential legal
elements required to ground an estoppel.
To view the full document click the link at the top
Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn more about the many achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian descent who, throughout our history, have done so much to make Canada the amazing country we share today.
The theme for Asian Heritage Month 2021, “Recognition, Resilience, and Resolve”, embodies the myriad of sentiments that peoples of Asian descent in Canada have experienced and honours their contributions and their diverse stories which are rooted in resilience and perseverance. Let us celebrate the incredible diversity that is our strength.
Source:
“https://www.canada.ca/en/
Unifor thanks all paramedics for their exceptional courage and compassion on the occasion of Paramedic Services Week, which runs from May 23 to May 29, 2021.
Paramedic Services Week serves to spotlight our professional paramedics. The theme for this year’s Paramedic Services Week “Paramedic as Educator – Citizen Ready” this year’s theme hopes to demonstrate the important role that paramedics play as educators to the public.
As emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, paramedics bring tremendous courage and dedication, skill, commitment, care, and compassion to their jobs as first responders. Paramedics are the highest medical authority on all pre-hospital medical emergencies and are frequently called upon to perform lifesaving skills from the point of patient contact until the transfer of care at a receiving medical facility.
Canadians rely on paramedics at times of great tragedy. The past year has been no different. Paramedics have been on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic transferring critically ill patients, administering vaccines, conducting COVID-19 tests and working with communities to help manage outbreaks.
Though governments call paramedics heroes, they have been treated far from heroes.
In Thunder Bay, paramedics at Superior North Emergency Medical Services reached a tentative collective agreement in the final hours of contract negotiations, avoiding strike action.
More recently, Unifor ORNGE Paramedics voted 94 per cent in favour of strike action. They are essentially the only paramedics in the province that are covered by Bill 124, which caps total compensation to one percent each year.
These are the same paramedics who have not had a vacation, and in some cases, not even days off. ORNGE paramedics have come from as far as Kenora, Thunder Bay and Timmins to help in the GTA moving critically ill patients to hospitals with ICU capacity. They work a 12 to 14 hour shift and then do it all again the next day.
The union is calling on the Ontario government to remove the one percent wage cap imposed by Bill 124 and allow these workers to negotiate a collective agreement like all other land ambulance services in Ontario who have freely negotiated collective agreements. Unifor will meet with the Finance Minister this week.
Unifor stands in unity and respect during Paramedic Services Week with all paramedics and remains committed to ensuring fair and equitable terms and conditions of employment in recognition of their care and compassion and tremendous courage and dedication, skill, and skill commitment in their service to the health of Canadians.
Download and share the Paramedic Services Week 2021 shareable and join us in thanking all Paramedics for their compassion, humanity and lifesaving work in our communities.
