UPDATED Oct. 4 at 11:55 a.m.
After bargaining late into the night Oct. 3, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 677 have come to a tentative agreement.
“It was an intense process,” NOSM dean Dr. Roger Strasser said.
The union, which represents 150 clerical, administrative and technical workers at NOSM's campuses in both Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, went on strike against the medical school Aug. 16.
NOSM and Local 677 started their latest round of negotiations Sept. 30.
Although a mediator helped the two parties during previous rounds of negotiations, this time they negotiated without any help.
“(The mediator) indicated (after the last round of negotiations) that she thought that there weren't too many items left, and we'd be able to work through those without mediation, and that proved to be true,” Strasser said.
Local 677 bargaining team chair Tyler England said the union is planning to hold a ratification meeting Oct. 7, although the details had yet to be finalized at Northern Life's press deadline. He said if the deal is ratified, the workers will likely be back on the job just after Thanksgiving.
Negotiations between the two parties began nearly a year ago. Local 677 has been attempting to negotiate the workers' first collective agreement with the medical school.
“We're close to (having completed) 50 days of bargaining, which is a huge number,” England said. “Absolutely, there were frustrating moments throughout that process. It's fortunate that now we're at a point where the members can decide.”
Strasser and England both said they are unable to talk about specific aspects of the agreement until it is ratified.
However, England said the most important aspect of the negotiations was “enshrining” the workers' current “rights and privileges” in a collective agreement format.
Strasser said he's pleased a tentative deal has been reached between the two parties.
“Right through, the school has been committed to reaching a first collective agreement with the support staff, which fairly reflects the unique nature of NOSM and its workforce,” he said. “I believe this agreement does reflect that.”
Strasser said the non-striking medical school staff and faculty have done a good job to ensure that those who attend classes at the medical school were able to continue with their studies during the strike.
He said he does recognize that those attempting to get onto the Laurentian University campus were adversely affected by the picket lines set up by the strikers.
The picket lines at the entrance to the university have often caused large traffic tie-ups on Ramsey Lake Road.
“(Those trying to get onto campus have) been more than inconvenienced,” he said. “It's been quite difficult for them. I think everyone is looking forward to an end to this dispute, and completion of the first collective agreement.”
England said although the picket lines will remain in place until the deal is ratified, the picketers will do something to give students a helping hand this week.
They are collecting non-perishable food items from those crossing the picket lines Oct. 4-6, and donating the food to the campus food bank.
“This is one way we really want to give back to the university community, and the students, given that we're getting so close to Thanksgiving, and demand is always higher at this time of year,” England said.
