Members of Unifor Local 229 have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, in a vote on January 10. The union represents approximately 65 members who are employees of the Port Arthur Health Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario who work as medical aides, appointment secretaries and in medical records.
“The main issues in this dispute are related to the lack of permanent positions which has led the employer to overuse casual employees. Our members are concerned about job security and fairness for all workers,” said Kari Jefford, Local 229 president.
The other pressing issue in this round of bargaining is fair compensation and equal pay. “These workers lag far behind in compensation when compared to other workers who do the same jobs at both the local and provincial level, but they certainly compare equally in terms of workload and the skills utilized daily in their work,” said Jefford.
The union has applied for conciliation and will be asking for a no board report which is the last step required to be in a legal strike position.