Tentative settlement finally reached in NOSM strike

'The bargaining team pushed the employer very hard and they understood our members weren’t going to buckle under.'

Sudbury (4 Oct. 2010) - A tentative agreement has been reached between the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and more than 150 striking office, administrative and technical staff.

The employees are members of Local 677 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union(OPSEU/NUPGE).

“I extend my congratulations to our bargaining team and the strong support they received from our members on the picket line,” says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas, who personally visited the picket line on three occasions. The strike began on Aug. 16.

“The bargaining team pushed the employer very hard and they understood our members weren’t going to buckle under.”

Tyler England, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team, says union officials are currently summarizing details of the tentative agreement. A ratification vote is scheduled on Thursday.

Picket lines will remain in place at NOSM campuses at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and Laurentian University in Sudbury until the vote. NOSM also operates satellite campuses in Sault Ste Marie and Timmins.

Issues at the bargaining table included wage and benefit improvements, provisions around contracting out and maternity and sick leave provisions.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

More information:
• NOSM talks break off with only limited progress
• Mediation in NOSM strike will resume Sept. 14-17
• Mediation scheduled in strike by NOSM employees
• OPSEU pledges solidarity to striking NOSM workers
• NOSM workers walk after negotiations break down
• NOSM workers vote 97% in favour of strike action
• NOSM employees choose OPSEU as their union