Labour Arbitration Award for St. Joseph's Continuing Care Centre

A labour arbitration award has been issued by the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act for St. Joseph's Continuing Care Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The award, dated October 24, 2024, addresses a series of issues related to the renewal of the collective agreement between the Centre and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The arbitration board, consisting of John McNamee, Larry Robbins, and Clarence Willms, considered factors such as the employer's ability to pay, the extent of potential service reductions, and the economic situation in Ontario and the municipality.

Key Takeaways:

• The parties agreed to a three-year term for the new collective agreement, running from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025.
• All employees who did not receive pandemic pay prior to August 13, 2020, will receive a lump sum payment based on their status on that date.
• Wage rates will be adjusted to conform with the OHA/OPSEU Central Wage Rates, resulting in retroactive general wage increases of 4.75%, 3.5%, 1.75%, and 3.0% for different periods.
• Energiing call back pay to 2X regular rate, increasing evening, night, and weekend premiums, and adding a Health Spending Account of $500.00 per calendar year for full-time employees only.

Statistics:

• 58 bed complex continuing care and adult rehabilitation program operating under the Public Hospitals Act.
• 12 employees in the bargaining unit: 10 full-time, and two part-time.
• 50% of employees will receive a lump sum payment for pandemic pay, with amounts ranging from $750 to $1750.

Sources:

• IN THE MATTER OF THE HOSPITAL LABOUR DISPUTES ARBITRATION ACT AND IN THE MATTER OF AN INTEREST ARBITRATION FOR A RENEWAL COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT B E T W E E N: ST. JOSEPH'S CONTINUING CARE CENTRE ("the employer") - and - ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES UNION ON BEHALF OF ITS LOCAL 402 ("the union")