SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Around 100 employees working in a seniors community in the city have avoided a strike after a tentative agreement was reached yesterday.
Unionized workers including care providers and kitchen staff at Avens a Community for Seniors reached a tentative agreement March 5 avoiding a potential strike. Avens operates four facilities across the city. - NNSL file photo |
Care workers, kitchen and recreation staff, housekeepers and maintenance personnel at Avens' facilities across the city voted 96 per cent in favour of a strike earlier this week, after negotiations for maternity leave allowance, job security and moderate wage increases broke down. The employees care for around 60 patients, many of whom experience dementia.
After two days of conciliation talks, bargaining teams were able to come to an agreement.
"I think members will be quite pleased with the improvements and protections that have been negotiated on their behalf," stated Union of Northern Workers president Todd Parsons in a press release. "This shows the progress that can be made when an employer is willing to bargain fairly and co-operatively."
Employees felt their positions were threatened by private contract staff, said Jack Bourassa, Public Service Alliance of Canada's regional executive vice-president, adding although the employer may see a cost savings initially, temporary appointments often compromise client care.
"You get contracted workers, they don't get paid the same kind of money, they don't get any decent benefits, so when somebody is not being properly compensated for services rendered, they tend not to put their heart into the job as much," Bourassa told Yellowknifer.
"There's a rapport that's been built up over the years so that would be a shame to lose that."
The two sides had been in negotiations for more than a year.
"This agreement will preserve the excellent quality of care provided by staff at Avens," Bourassa stated in the release. "I'm pleased we were able to reach a fair and reasonable contract for workers."
Avens did not return Yellowknifer phone calls by press time.
Avens operates four facilities in the city including Aven Cottages, Aven Court, Aven Manor and Aven Ridge, with the potential strike to have affected all unionized employees excluding managers.
