Bargaining Updates:
City of Ottawa Aquatics:
An Interest Arbitration date to resolve the outstanding items for the Collective Agreement was held 17 October 2023. The Local received the Award on Tuesday, December 12th. A summary document was distributed to the CUPE 503 Aquatics Members on Thursday, January 11th 2024 and we are now starting work on the new Collective Agreement language for posting on the CUPE 503 website.
Forrest Hill Long Term Care:
The Interest Arbitration date to resolve the outstanding items from bargaining was held December 18th 2023 and we now await the award from the Arbitrator.
Embassy West Retirement Residence:
After two additional days of bargaining in late January the Union has filed for Conciliation after Bargaining Team determined a tentative agreement could not be reached. A Ministry of Labour Conciliator has been appointed and we are currently working to schedule dates for the parties to meet again.
Sandfield Place:
An Arbitrator has been appointed by the Ministry of Labour and an arbitration date has been set for May 2024.
Ottawa Humane Society:
Bargaining commenced with the Employer mid-September. After several dates of negotiations the 503 Bargaining Team had made the decision to file for conciliation. Conciliation was held November 29th 2023 between the parties and we were not able to reach a tentative agreement. The Parties and their legal council are currently in discussions regarding next steps towards a resolution of the outstanding items.
Champlain HCCSS:
A central table was organized for the CUPE 503 HCCSS members with respect to the re-opener clause for wages as Bill 124 has been deemed by the courts as unconstitutional. The 503 Bargaining Team was at the central table in Toronto January 24th & 25th 2024. A resolution to the re-opener clause was not able to be reached and next steps are currently being discussed with the leadership of the 8 CUPE Locals who are impacted across the province.
City of Clarence Rockland:
Preparation is underway for the upcoming round of bargaining with the City of Clarence Rockland for the collective agreement expiring December 31st 2023. The bargaining survey closed on Friday, February 2nd 2024. The CUPE 503 Bargaining Team met on February 15th & 16th to review the survey results and commence drafting proposals. A Ratification of Demands meeting is scheduled with our Clarence Rockland members for Thursday, March 21st from 6pm to 8pm at RiverRock Inn in Clarence Rockland. The exchange of proposals with the Employer will take place on Friday, March 22nd and bargaining dates are scheduled through the end of March.
Other Work Underway:
Ottawa Public Library Save the Date
CUPE 503 will be hosting a OPL Hybrid Members Meeting on Tuesday, March 12th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Members can join either in-person at 1505 Carling Ave or by Zoom. Promotional materials will be sent out through our Shop Stewards Network and by email to OPL members who we have personal email addresses for how to register to attend by Zoom.
CUPE 503 Members in the Ottawa Paramedic Service
In preparation for our public-facing CUPE Paramedic Service campaign a members survey will launch on Wednesday, February 21st and will close Thursday, February 29th. The goal is to benchmark a series of questions we have asked in 2022 and 2023 to ground the Local in campaign planning. The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCZ9WBH
A communication will be sent out to our Paramedic Service Members email list as well in the coming days including a QR Code.
CUPE 503 met with Mayor Sutcliffe & the City Managers Officemid-January to discuss the ongoing Service Review. A section of our submission focused on the Paramedic Service and the need for investment in our members and adequate staffing levels. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for mid-March to have further discussions. The paramedic service portion of our submission can be read here.
Save the Date
Our next Hybrid General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th 7pm.