After being elected by the membership in January, the Local 22005 bargaining team have been meeting regularly to discuss and prioritize bargaining input provided by the membership and develop a first collective agreement which will be presented to the employer on behalf of members of working at Rising Sun.
The team hoped meet with the employer in March, however scheduling difficulties on the management side pushed bargaining dates to June.
Given this delay and ongoing workplace problems including health and safety, staffing, and workload issues, the team proposed a written memorandum which would help guide both parties until a new collective agreement is in place.
Unfortunately, the employer declined this offer.
Meeting dates have now been scheduled in June, and the team is looking forward to negotiating a new contract that will result in a safer, healthier, and more respectful work environment.
Approximately 35 PSAC members work as residential support workers, licensed practical nurses, case workers, counsellors, health care aids and cleaners at Rising Sun, a federally funded Community Residential Facilities Program that provides transitional supportive housing for men moving to community living after experiencing federal incarceration.