Striking Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) workers will vote on a tentative deal from the medical school Oct. 12.
The 150 clerical, administrative and technical workers, who belong to OPSEU Local 677, had originally planned to hold a ratification meeting to vote on the contract Oct. 7.
“There has been considerable delay in getting agreement on the summary of the tentative contract,” Tyler England, chair of Local 677’s bargaining team, said in a press release.
“We feel it is only fair that our members have a few days to review the proposed deal before voting on it.”
For the time being, picket lines will remain in place at NOSM’s campuses at Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.
The two sides came to the tentative deal after bargaining late into the night Oct. 3.
“It was an intense process,” Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM dean, said.
The union 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, they negotiated without any help this time.
Absolutely, there were frustrating moments throughout that process. It’s fortunate that now we’re at a point where the members can decide.
Tyler England,
Local 677 bargaining team chair
“(The mediator) indicated (after the last round of negotiations) that she thought 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.
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 those who attend classes at the medical school were able to continue with their studies during the strike.
He said he recognizes 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 caused large traffic tie-ups on Ramsey Lake Road. Those trying to get onto campus have “been more than inconvenienced,” Strasser 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.”
