THUNDER BAY -- Less than a day after Avenue II management said it was preparing for a strike by its staff this coming weekend, the parties have agreed to last-minute contract negotiations that will take place on Thursday.
Late Monday night, the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, representing 100 Avenue II workers, announced it was cancelling a union rally that was scheduled to take place outside the agency's offices on Tuesday.
At the same time, the union said it and Avenue II management had agreed to "a media blackout on collective bargaining talks until further notice."
On September 22, the membership narrowly rejected a tentative agreement that their own bargaining committee had recommended for acceptance.
In a statement on Monday, an OPSEU spokesperson said the stumbling block was the pay rate for workers in the lowest-paid "casual" job classification.
Avenue II provides support for about 100 people with developmental disabilities, offering a range of services including residential, recreation and employment assistance.
In the event of a strike or lockout that would begin at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 30, Avenue II management and temporary workers would provide only essential services to 36 clients receiving support in their own homes.
All non-residential services would be cancelled.
