Tentative deal reached in clinic talks

The Fort Frances Community Clinic management and Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 65.08 reached a tentative contract agreement yesterday after 12 hours at the bargaining table.
Both parties are expected to begin the ratification process next week and hopefully the situation will be resolved, Fort Frances Community Clinic administrator Marlis Bruyere said this morning.
“We were happy that the talks came out good and hope to be able to release the details of the contract by next week when it’s official,” she noted.
CUPE national rep Danny Scheibli said both sides were happy with moving forward last night.
“I’m confident that the membership will be pleased with the outcome and continue to move forward,” he remarked.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but I’m sure the membership will vote in favour of it.”
Bargaining teams reached the tentative agreement around 9:30 p.m. yesterday, avoiding a looming strike or lockout situation during the week of July 28.
Failed contract negotiations last month between the two parties resulted in CUPE 65.08 threatening strike action.
Back on June 26, the 16 full- and part-time female workers at the clinic voted 100 percent in favour of a strike.
The Town of Fort Frances contributed a $1-million interest-free loan so the privately-run clinic could be converted to a community-based one under the Family Health Team model of the Ministry of Health.
Under CUPE 65.08’s current contract, members lag far behind other CUPE health-care workers in Fort Frances in terms of wages (upwards of $5/hour in some cases), as well as benefits, pensions, pregnancy, parental and jury duty leave, and vacation time.