ORNGE Members – Bargaining Update for September 15, 2021

September 15, 2021 at 11:45 AM

Since our previous update, the union and company met with Senior Mediator Kate Karn on September 2^nd and 10^th, to assist with the conciliation process.

During these meetings, the union took the opportunity to make the company aware of the shortcomings the membership had voiced during the numerous Zoom meetings following the rejected ratification vote which took place on April 23, 2021.  Mediator Kate Karn was appointed to prompt the company to listen and engage.

Following conciliation, Mediator Kate Karn issued a “no board” which initiates a 17-day period prior to the union being in a legal strike position. Concurrently, the parties agreed that all outstanding issues in dispute shall be referred to binding interest arbitration pursuant to the Ambulances Services Collective Bargaining Act (ASCBA).

The union and the company have agreed that arbitrator William (Bill) Kaplan will hear the case which is now scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, 2021.

The bargaining committee would like to thank the membership of ORNGE for their continued support and commits to providing regular updates throughout this process.

In Solidarity,
Ornge Bargaining Committee
Mark Etherington, Chairperson
Keith Simons, Northern Bases
Geoffrey Brown, Southern Bases
Denise Cochrane, Assistant to the Local President
Kelly-Anne Orr, National Staff Representative