Labour action could begin as soon as March 20
Professional staff delivering home nursing services in Ontario’s Niagara and Norfolk counties will be in a legal strike position as of midnight on Friday, March 20.
The employer, Care Partners, is under contract to the Community Care Access Centre.
According to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), the employer has dragged out the negotiation process by agreeing to very few bargaining dates in the 20 months employees have been without a contract.
“Care Partners appears more concerned about breaking the union than they are preserving the continuity of care delivered to their clients,” said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
A no-board report beginning the countdown to a legal strike or lockout was issued by the Minister of Labour.
The union anticipates the Community Care Access Centre will stop referring clients to the employer and begin the process of transferring existing patients with the highest care needs to alternate providers in anticipation of labour action.
