CMHA workers say they want fair wages, schedule flexibility

Canadian Mental Health Association workers in Thunder Bay say labour talks have hit an impasse.

Members of the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union Local 720 on Wednesday said their employer has refused to address four top issues during contract negotiations, which began earlier this month.

Union steward Laurie Koval said CMHA management don’t appear willing to budge on any of the aforementioned topics.

“We are looking for a fair and reasonable wage increase and the employer isn’t looking at anything that is near fair or reasonable,” Koval said, taking a break from an afternoon information picket outside the CMHA’s Van Norman Street office.

“We’re tried really hard – we’re a mental health agency – to get bullying language in our collective agreement, but it’s not happening. The employer has flatly refused to put any language in the collective agreement.”

Koval added they are also looking for scheduling flexibility for shift workers and a return to a combination of eight- and 12-hour shifts while retaining the right to switch shifts with fellow co-workers.

It’s all about a work-life balance, she said.

At present shifts are 12-hours long.

“The employer is clawing back any flexibility they currently have in their agreement, as well as some benefits around sick leave,” Koval said.

According to the union, employees are seeking to retain the same level of sick leave as they currently have.

Koval said they’ve applied for conciliation, but it likely won’t be available until August. That would be the earliest union members would find themselves in a legal strike position.