April 12, 2012
Bargaining at the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association table continues to make slow but steady progress, HSPBA Chief Negotiator Jeanne Meyers reported today.
Like most public sector union contracts in the province, the agreement expired March 31, 2012.
“At the outset of bargaining, we said we were committed to the process, but that if we didn’t see signs from employers that there was an appetite for meaningful discussion about contract issues important to health science professionals, we would not have a lot of patience for the process,” Meyers said.
“I am optimistic that the work being done at the bargaining table is productive, albeit slow, and we are working on a number of long-standing issues that it is in members’ interest to resolve,” she said.
Promising discussions are continuing on the Enhanced Disability Management Program and on an improved and faster arbitration process designed to speed up resolution of disputes.
“The pace is slow, but we continue to seek fair and reasonable recognition of the value of health science professionals in the modern health care team,” said CUPE bargaining committee member Chris Losito.
Bargaining is set to resume later this month.