Arbitrator hands down decision in wake of CCAC strike

Kaplan's decision means that ONA members in seven southern Ontario CCACs will receive a 1.4-per-cent increase in each of two years, while members in the two northern Ontario CCACs, including the Northeast CCAC, will receive a 1.4-per-cent increase in year one and a 3.4-per-cent increase in year two — providing northern workers a degree of catch-up pay with their southern counterparts. The increases are retroactive to April 1, 2014.

In a March 30 news release, ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud said Kaplan's decision reflects what union members were looking for all along.

"Mr. Kaplan's award acknowledges our highly skilled and valuable RNs and health professionals, giving them respect they so rightly deserve," Haslam-Stroud said.

The new contract will expire on March 31, 2016.