THUNDER BAY – Workers at a seniors’ assisted living complex could be headed for the picket line.
Unifor Local 229 president Kari Jefford, in a release issued on Friday by the union, said 36 workers at Jasper Place could walk off the job should a last-minute April 24 conciliation meeting with the city not bring about a resolution to the labour dispute.
Jefford said at that point the union would file a no board report and begin the process of putting workers in a legal strike position.
“It’s unfortunate that it has come to this, but the employer has left us no alternative,” Jefford in the release.
“We have been negotiating for about six months and put a fair offer to the city that should have led to an agreement, but they refused to respond or put any offer forward, and the union cannot bargain with itself.”
Most of the affected workers are in support services, as well as a tenant counsellor and a recreationist.
“Our proposal to the city would have seen these members get to the median in terms of what workers in the long-term care sector make compared to other municipalities,” said Andy Savela, Unifor director of health care.
“If you look at recent negotiations between the city of Thunder Bay and its labour groups you realize something is wrong. This employer is not negotiating; they’re frustrating the process.”
