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Offer to workers fair, says Bosco Homes

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, July 23, 2007

FORT SMITH - The executive director/CEO of Bosco Homes says a fair contract offer has been made to workers at Fort Smith's Trailcross Treatment Centre.

G.R. (Gus) Rozycki said the not-for-profit Bosco Homes is limited in what it can offer the workers by its own contract with the territorial government.

"In the current contract (with the GNWT), we don't have the money," Rozycki said. "It's just not there."

Talks aimed at reaching a new contract with the workers broke down on July 10.

About 16 full-time and part-time counsellors and support workers are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)/Union of Northern Workers Local 2.

They will be in a position to give 72 hours notice of a strike on Aug. 6.

Trailcross accommodates nine children, aged 13-16. They require treatment for social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

"We don't want a strike," Rozycki said. "Our entire organization is dedicated to serving children who have high needs. This is a significant distraction."

The Alberta-based Bosco Homes receives just over $1.4 million a year from the Department of Health and Social Services to operate Trailcross.

Bosco Homes' offer to the workers includes proposed wage increases of one per cent in the first year (retroactive to April 1, 2006) and 2.8 per cent in the second year (retroactive to April 1, 2007).

The union's counter proposal was seven per cent in the first year and five per cent in the second year.

"I can't conjure up dollars I don't have," Rozycki said.

Bosco Homes agreed to other union requests, such as improved vacation time for employees with five years service and an increased payment for being on call.

A conciliation officer booked out of the negotiations on July 16, meaning the two sides are too far apart for conciliation to help.

That began a 21-day cooling off period to Aug. 6.

Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, regional executive vice-president for PSAC North, said there would be some hope a strike can be avoided if the employer drops all demands for concessions.

"We're open to listening to what they have to say," he said.

The union particularly objects to the proposed elimination of incremental wage increases as a person gains experience within a job classification.

The union is also objecting to reduced rights for employees on probation.

Des Lauriers said some of the blame for the labour dispute lies with the GNWT, noting the government is trying to "nickel and dime" workers by contracting out services to such organizations as Bosco Homes.

In June, the workers voted about 85 per cent in favour of walking out, if necessary.

The workers' previous contract expired in March of last year.